Michael Eady and Corey Carwile received the surprise of their young lives when the White House called and invited them to meet the president of the United States. The Scouts were among a select contingent of local residents who greeted President Bush after Air Force One landed in Louisville, Kentucky, last week.

"Welcome to Louisville, Mr. President" were the first words out of Eady's mouth as he greeted Bush. "I'm very honored to meet you, and keep doing what you're doing," Eady said.

The youth were invited to meet the president after his staff read a story in a local newspaper about the two young men receiving two of the BSA's national heroism awards. Previously, Carwile and Eady had been recognized by the BSA's Lincoln Heritage (Louisville-area) Council for their heroic acts.

Carwile, a 13-year-old First Class Scout from Pekin, Indiana, received the Heroism Award for helping his mother and two dogs get out of their farmhouse that was destroyed by fire. Eady, a 17-year-old Life Scout from Louisville, received the Honor Medal. He rescued a woman who was pinned under an overturned automobile. Active in his ROTC program, Eady says he plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy next year and to continue with a career in the Marine Corps.

On the tarmac of the Kentucky Air National Guard base at Louisville International Airport, Bush posed for photos with the Scouts and noted that he was "very proud of both of [them]" and "our country needs more young men like you."

Carwile lived up to his billing as "being prepared" for the presidential greetings, as he said very little to the leader of the free world, but instead handed Bush a brand new baseball to autograph. Corey's mother, Jayne Carwile, said the baseball would be a "keeper" and planned to display it above the family's fireplace mantel.

"It was great privilege to meet the president," Carwile said.

"These two young men are fine examples of what the Scouting program can do to prepare young people to make sound judgments in times of crisis," said Marc Reynerson, local council Scout executive.