Young Scout Earns Rare Honor After Brave Raft Rescue

Quick Smiles:

• Devon Champenoy sprang into action when a rafting trip turned dangerous and his scoutmaster was trapped underwater.
• He rescued the leader, then helped guide young campers safely through the rapids.
• For his heroism, Devon received the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms, one of Scouting’s rarest awards.

Devon Champenoy proved the power of the Scout Law when a routine rafting trip turned into a life-threatening emergency. During the excursion, Assistant Scoutmaster David Lemley was thrown from the raft and pinned underwater by the powerful current.

The young scout acted instantly by jumping into the dangerous rapids to free the trapped leader. After the rescue, Devon spent the next twenty minutes navigating the raft through multiple sets of rapids to bring a group of young campers to safety.

“I am the person who was rescued, and I am incredibly grateful to be alive because of Devon’s courage, quick thinking, and leadership that day,” David shared later.

For his extraordinary bravery, the fifteen-year-old was recently awarded the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms. This rare recognition is reserved for scouts who demonstrate exceptional heroism while saving a life at extreme risk to themselves.

“I didn’t feel it at the moment. It was just instinct,” Devon recalled about his actions during the crisis.

“It took a while for me to accept that I saved a life, but I think now I have.”

Devon’s story reminds us that preparation and courage can transform an ordinary person into a hero when it matters most.

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