Boy Scout Nate Lacey rakes some newer material in front of a columbaria at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His Eagle Scout project is one of many being done by area Boy Scouts. (Bill Hess-Herald/Review)
Posted on 10/26/2008 10:00:04 AM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — Family and friends who want to honor a loved one entombed in the columbaria complex at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery no longer have to struggle to put in flower holders.
Thanks to Nate Lacey and fellow Boy Scouts of Troop 447, sponsored by the Living Word Church, the ground where the offerings are left is now much easier place to display flowers.
Lacey, 14, a freshman at Buena High School, did the columbaria flower rock project as part of his quest to become an Eagle Scout.
On Saturday, he and 30 other Cub and Boy Scouts, other friends and family members, and adults from the church were busy removing the larger rocks in a trench at the bottom of the areas that hold the cremains of veterans. They placed smaller stones, which had been crushed into an almost soil-like condition.
It was a day of back-breaking work, with wheel barrel after wheel barrel of the larger rocks being removed to be filled with the finer material.
Lacey said the material to replace the older rocks cost about $500 — money was donated by a number “of friends.”
In all, 15 tons of material, or as Lacey called it, “new stuff,” was moved during the project that began at 8 a.m. and was completed in the afternoon.
Getting to the point for the work to take place took about three months of planning. Lacey had to research what kind of material would be best to replace the older, larger rocks and develop a work plan for the site to make sure people were not running into one another.
Flowers had to be removed, and Lacey said they were placed so that when they were put back they would be in the same areas from where they were removed.
When Memorial Day comes around, Scouts also will not have a hard time placing small American flags at the columbaria.
“It was hard to get them into the ground,” the Eagle Scout hopeful said.
The reason for the project was two-fold. First, it was to make the area more beautiful and so floral offerings wouldn’t fall. But, Lacey said, it also is to honor “the veterans who are here (at their final resting place) is really important.”
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
Boy Scout Nate Lacey rakes some newer material in front of a columbaria at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His Eagle Scout project is one of many being done by area Boy Scouts. (Bill Hess-Herald/Review)
Thank you for posting this nice, positive story.
That is an excellent Eagle project.
It required some mental work, some physical work and most importantly, some leadership.
Soon to be replaced by the Obama Youth.
Scout Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.
Scout Promise: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law: To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scouting will celebrate its 100 year Birthday in Feb. 2010 I’m proud to be an adult Scouter and will continue to give of my time and resources to help these young men as long as I am able.
Additionally, on 19 - 26 July 2010 we will have an International Scouting event with the Mexican Scouts. We call it a Pimarree with over 400 Scouts.
Is this limited to your Council's Scouts only? Will it be just Boy Scouts, or will Venturers be involved as well?
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