Out of Georgia comes a heart warmer about the Boy Scouts for a change. Instead of radical gays attacking this noble organization, instead of extremist left-wing politicians trying to make a name for themselves by attacking one of America’s finest youth organizations, we have a story that makes you smile. And you can bet it won’t make national news.

Rodrigo and Rosa Cano moved to the United States in 1980. A decade or so later Rosa gave birth to David who the proud parents enrolled in a local Boy Scouts troop when he reached his tenth year. They hoped that young David could further help them assimilate in their new home as young David brought home his Scouting experiences.

Young David set a goal for himself as a Scout: to win every merit badge and every Eagle Palm award that the Boy Scouts offered. And, finally at age 17, David became only the third Boy Scout ever to win all 121 Boy Scout merit badges. Cano earned all 20 Eagle Palms, as well.

“I did it for the experience,” said Cano, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1776 in east Cobb. “With every merit badge, there’s a purpose. You’ll learn something new with every single badge. Some are life skills and others are hobbies that will be with you for the rest of your life.”

According to Marietta Daily Journal, Cano had to fulfill the requirements for all 121 merit badges as well as the 1,674 additional requirements to win the 20 Eagle Palms. An Eagle Palm is awarded for every five merit badges earned.

This exceptional young man is not only a focused Eagle Scout, either. He is heavily engaged in his school, too.

Cano is a junior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell. He has been a member of the school’s football and soccer teams, school band, Model United Nations and is a National Honor Society member. Someday, he hopes to become a surgeon.

“I’ve really enjoyed the Scouting program,” Cano said. “I’ve picked up a lot of friends and really had the time of my life being in this organization.”

Cano’s proud parents seem to be the sort of immigrant that every natural born American should appreciate.

“It did help us to bridge between being Hispanics into the American society in a way that Scouts offers minority boys – whether black, Chinese or Hispanic – the American culture,” Rodrigo Cano said. “This is something that is very near and dear to many American families.”

What a great story all around. An exceptional boy coming to manhood through the Boy Scouts and an immigrant family proud of their son, patriotic for their new country, and seriously engaged in their community.

Sadly, this wonderful story won’t see the light of day on the national scene even though it should.

Congratulations to David Cano and his family. And another great success story had by the Boy Scouts, one of the best youth organizations in the country.