It's been a long journey, but Nicholas Heberling of Coplay finally attained the rank of Eagle Scout Jan. 4.

Heberling, who began Scouting at the age of six as a Cub Scout, was presented with the coveted rank of Eagle at a Court of Honor ceremony hosted by Boy Scout Troop 79 of St. John the Baptist Church, Stiles, Whitehall Township.

The ceremony, held at the West Coplay Maennerchor, was well attended by family and friends, including Nicholas's parents Joseph and Denise Heberling. Joseph Heberling is a Troop 79 assistant Scout leader.

Troop 79 is heralded as one of the most active youth-driven troops in the region, providing the young boys and teens a host of challenging programs and projects. Nicholas is the 22nd member of Boy Scout Troop 79 to attain the Eagle Scout ranking, according to Scoutmaster Al Edelman.

In addition to a number of other requirements, Nicholas had to present a project plan on paper, finance the project and work on the project with volunteers in order to earn the Eagle pin and neckerchief.

Approved first by the Ironton Rail-Trail Oversight Commission, Nicholas chose to upgrade and refurbish the Lehigh Valley Traction Company trolley trestle that crossed the Ironton rail, north of Ruch Street in Coplay. He and his team removed bushes, weeds, several feet of dirt from around the structure and one tree. He also removed loose concrete, had a new concrete cap poured over the structure, then had it painted.

The train tracks were painted and the wooden ties restained. Nicholas had new molding custom-made for the mural on the structure.

Completing the project, Nicholas mulched the grounds and placed two large decorative flower pots at the site.

State Rep. Daniel McNeill, D-133rd, presented Nicolas with a Pennsylvania House of Representatives citation. Nicholas also received a Whitehall Township commendation from Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. and was recognized by Coplay Mayor Joseph Bundra.

A 2013 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School, Nicholas currently attends Bloomsburg University.

The program began with David Sodl, Troop 79 committee chairman, who delivered the Voice of the Eagle, on his introduction by Eagle Scout Justin Sommer. Also included in the program were James Schultz, assistant Scoutmaster, Trail to Eagle; Eagle Scout Brandon Marth, Eagle Challenge; Eagle Scout Sean Bankos, Eagle Pledge; Frank Tauber, charter representative, Troop 79, Eagle Charge; and The Eagle Scout presentation was made by Edelman, Sodl, Tauber and Nicholas' parents, Joseph and Denise Heberling. His mother pinned the Eagle pin on Nicholas' Scout uniform.

Nicholas amassed 32 merit badges throughout his Scouting career, from space exploration and environmental science to archery and nuclear science. From the initial rank of Tenderfoot in 2007, Nicholas steadily climbed the Scouting ranks.

Monsignor Thomas E. Hoban of St. John the Baptist Church gave the invocation and benediction.