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House Speaker Paul Ryan was honored with the Boy Scouts of America’s Distinguished Citizen Award in Kenosha Wednesday afternoon.

Ryan, a former Boy Scout, was honored for his “leadership and civic dedication.”

Hundreds of community leaders, business professionals and local politicians packed the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha for the ceremony and luncheon.

Ryan, the nation’s highest-ranking Republican, said he was humbled by the award and encouraged all in attendance to remember that “leadership is service.”

“The people in the Scouts are the ones who make our community work,” he said. “The people here — and I think I know just about every face that I see in the audience — you’re the ones who make our communities work. You’re the local educators, school officials, the entrepreneurs, the small business people, the pastors, the community leaders. This is community, right here.”

He said Wisconsin youth “give him hope for the future,” despite all the evil in the world.

Past recipients of the award include Carthage College President Gregory Campbell, Snap-on Inc. Chairman, President and CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk and Merchants Moving & Storage Co. Chairman Jim Eastman.