By JAMES EIK
Staff Reporter
Thanks to a couple of Eagles Scout candidates the Washington State Veterans Cemetery near Medical Lake recently received some new amenities.
Christopher and Zachary Taylor, of Boy Scout Troop 340, each took on separate projects that helped finish some uncompleted areas at the cemetery. Christopher worked on the Honor Guard Walkway, and Zachary helped to further the Scattering Garden's development by introducing foliage.
The walkway allows volunteer Honor Guard and Rifle Team members to make their way from the administration building to the cemetery chapel in perfect procession formation. Both sides of the stairway have boxwoods, which will grow into a full set of hedges.
“Prior to this project, they either had to make their way up the grassy hillside which could be muddy or slippery in the rain or snow,” the Taylors said in an email.
The Scattering Garden, before the completion of Zachary's project, was little more than a barren circle. A one-of-a-kind project to Washington state, the garden allows ashes to be scattered in a place where foliage will grow in an area covered by shade in the future. With Zachary's work, the garden has expanded to allow greater area for ashes to be scattered.
“When we started thinking about potential Eagle Scout projects, we decided we would like to do something that would not only be beneficial to our community but to our local veterans as well,” the Taylors said.
At the start of their project, the brothers contacted the director of the Veterans Cemetery, Richard Cesler.
Although Zach's project is complete, the cemetery is seeking donations for perennial flowers and trees that will help develop the area into more of a garden. Cesler, the former director at the Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho, said that even in its current state, the Scattering Garden has vastly improved from others he has seen.
“Here I wanted to continue that theme (from Boise's cemetery), and go just one step beyond that,” Cesler said. “So my idea, and I created this Eagle Scout project, was to actually create a walking garden. It's a beautiful place where people can feel comfortable and relax, put some trees in and make it shady.”
Fifteen hours spent over their weekend at April's Spokane Gun Show helped jumpstart the fundraising venture. Zachary and Christopher each raised $1,200 at the event.
“It was the first weekend of spring break, and we spent 15 hours down there, talking to people and getting donations from various individuals and just informing the public about our projects,” Zachary said.
Although the brothers sought quotes for materials needed, both the scope and cost of the project grew. An initial quote for the Honor Guard Walkway slated the project at $4,600. Its final cost was $5,100. Anticipated to cost $4,000, the Scattering Garden came in at $5,300. Both brothers, along with help from others, spent nearly 200 hours planning and carrying out their projects. Each raised $5,300 for their projects.
Donations also came in from Spokane Rotary Club 21, Greenacres Nursery in the Spokane Valley and various veterans groups in the Spokane area.
The cemetery, opened Memorial Day 2010, sits on 120 acres of land, 70 of which are usable. Wetlands occupy the rest of the cemetery's acreage. Currently in use are 25 acres, according to Cesler.
Although the projects are finished, the brothers' application process for the Eagle Scout rank is not complete.
James Eik can be reached at [email protected].
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