The motto for Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared.” They may be empty words to some, but the motto has meaning to the young men who join and embrace this noble pursuit. You just never know when that training and those merit badges will come into play.

It happened not long ago to members of Boy Scout Troop 582. Russ Partington, scoutmaster, and Justin Lawson, a member of the troop, assisted a couple making their way down Mount LeConte and, according to the couple, probably saved their lives. They were described as the couple’s guardian angels.

The troop was making a 20-mile hike to earn a difficult merit badge. They hiked up to LeConte Lodge and were on their way back down. Justin and his twin brother, Austin, chose to go on a longer hike with some of the other scouts. That decision proved fateful. Justin, Partington and two other scouts were the last ones still on the trail, and the scoutmaster was staying with them because the boys were growing tired. They passed an older couple, Frances and George Mills of Columbia, S.C., as they made their way down the mountain, and as it got darker and the couple began to labor, the scouts saw the older hikers were in some distress.

The scouts assisted the couple down the mountain, slowly, as darkness enveloped the park. They stopped and stayed with them while they rested. They served as guides and caretakers for the couple, who were from Columbia, S.C.

It was the assistance and reassurance provided by Justin and the others that got the Millses down that mountain to safety.

“I have no doubt,” Frances Mills wrote, “there might have been a different outcome had it not been for the good samaritans sent to us in the form of Russ and Justin.” The Millses were three and a half miles from the trailhead and knew they were at risk, but the scouts were there, employing their training and sense of compassion to help others in need.

Congratulations to all of the Boy Scouts and their leader who made the rescue possible. Service to others — that’s part of the scout training as well.