Posted on 04/17/2009 4:37:45 PM PDT by SandRat
BISBEE — Seventeen-year-old Andrew “Andy” Laborin has nearly achieved a project of upgrading Memory Gardens Cemetery on Highway 92.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, community members will dedicate the refurbished memorial area.
“I found a lot of veterans in there,” the Bisbee High School senior said, describing his Eagle Scout project with Troop 1.
The pinnacle of his good turn was the installation of a 30-foot-tall illuminated flagpole at the cemetery. To do that, Laborin rallied community support.
Jim’s Electric, located on Naco Highway across from Bisbee’s Safeway, donated half of the cost of the $1,400 flagpole and provided all the labor and concrete to plant the pole.
“Without them, this project could not have been done,” Laborin said.
He also received help from Freeport McMoRan, who excavated and disposed of the old concrete base. “They did that willingly and free of charge,” Laborin said.
Bisbee Kiwanis Club and individual Kiwanians gave money to cover the balance of the flagpole expense. A Bisbee High School teacher also donated money.
There were many others who helped, including his parents, cousins, aunts and uncles. The father of his best friend painted a storage building.
Laborin is ranked fifth, academically, in his senior class. He works part time at Brewery Avenue Designs.
He has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on the delayed entry program. He will report to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas on Aug. 3.
His ambition is to study integrated avionics. On April 27, he will turn 18, which is every scout’s deadline to complete an Eagle Scout project, according to Boy Scouts of America code.
Laborin’s mother is Rosina Hernandez. His stepfather, Rudy Hernandez, told the Herald/Review how the project challenged Laborin.
“As you can imagine just putting up the flagpole wasn’t the only task that needed to be done,” Hernandez said.
“He took a hard look at the cemetery itself and decided that in order for the flagpole to look good, a major face-lift (clean-up) would have to be done.”
Laborin and his fellow Scouts, with help from Naco Fire District, cut and trimmed and raked up the weeds and grass.
He said most of the rubbish went to the city dump transfer area. Other vegetation was used as mulch in places that needed it.
“You can actually now see from the highway that there is a cemetery there,” his stepfather said.
On Thursday, Laborin and his helpers added some white stone to the flagpole memorial area. Cochise Stone donated that.
Tonight, Laborin and the Scouts planned to hold a rehearsal of Saturday morning’s dedication ceremony. Laborin will speak at that. He also will perform with the band, playing alto saxophone.
Laborin credited his uncle and Assistant Scoutmaster Michael Donahue Sr. of Bisbee.
“He pretty much guided me the whole way,” Laborin said.
herald/review City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or by e-mail at cityeditor@svherald.com.
Dedication slated
At 10 a.m. Saturday, the new flagpole of Memory Gardens Cemetery on Highway 92 in the San Jose district of Bisbee will be dedicated. Members of Bisbee VFW Post 836 will attend. Scouts from Troop 1 will raise the flag. Bisbee High School band will play the national anthem and the songs of the U.S. military branches. The public is invited to attend.
SCOUT PING
I’ve ridden my motorcycle many times on 92 and NEVER knew there was a cemetery there..
What a great story.
I hope that going to San Antonio in August is the last mistake this great kid makes!
Good work!
Meanwhile, a video of him upgrading the cemetery is circulating the Internet with the suggestion that it will be used for mass graves.
/sarcasm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.