Boy Scout Eagle Project: Montgomery Memorial Cemetery

MONTGOMERY, TX -- The Boys Scouts were back at Montgomery Memorial Cemetery last month, doing a Good Turn for the Veterans graves located at the Black cemetery located north of the Historic District. The Scouts had been at the cemetery in December, laying Christmas Wreaths across the graves of many Veterans that are buried in the hallowed ground. That’s when one enterprising Scout had an idea for his Eagle Scout Project, to resurrect the ailing cross at the cemetery, and to rectify the state of numerous Veterans graves that had fallen into disrepair. Boy Scout Oscar Huss, seized his opportunity, and was back in mid-February with a plan and had a cadre of assistants to help complete the task.

Part of Oscar’s project consisted of ordering headstones for several Veterans who never received tomb markers. Headstones were requested from the Veterans Administration for Veterans Willis and Felix Byrd, who had been buried in the cemetery but did not have headstones. After discovering a mistake with the initial headstone delivery decades ago, new applications were submitted to the VA, and the headstones quickly approved, made, and delivered.

Willis Byrd was born in 1891 and served in the US Army during World War I. He passed away in 1971. Felix Byrd was born in 1900 and served in France in the US Army during the First World War. He passed away in 1980. The new headstones weighed in excess of 200 lbs and were over 3 feet tall prior to installation. The headstones were placed and their graves were finally recognized after over 44 years.

"It was a beautiful thing to see so many youth come together,” said Madison Bowman from Troop 907, whose father is a USNavy veteran. “It was an honor to help the Veterans by restoring their gravesites."

The second part of the project included the resetting of veteran headstones that had become sunken over time. Huss and his team had identified the graves of World War I Veterans Horace Brown, Perkins Franklin, and Jimmie Starks. Volunteers were able to remove excess dirt, roll the headstones forward, then they prepared the ground by placing sand and gravel beneath the headstones which provided a stable base. This allowed the Scouts to place the headstones in their original position, but at a higher elevation.

"This was a fun project to be a part of,” said Boy Scout Caleb Riise from Troop 351, the son of an Army Veteran. “It means a lot to honor the soldiers’ memories who can only talk through their gravestones."

To complete the project, Huss had the large cross located at the cemetery stained, reset, and secured in place with a concrete base, in addition, a new fabric around a cross that was in place at the cemetery. A new fabric drape was also installed.

"I am thankful for the many volunteers who came to participate in this project,” said Huss. “And we hope the families are excited to see the improvement of the gravesites of these veterans."

The Boy Scout was glad to have taken part in a project, and in his way giving back to the Veterans and their families in recognition of the service they provided this country.

Boy Scout Troops 351 and 907, along with Cub Scout Pack 907 assisted in the project. The Montgomery High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps also provided volunteers, as well as Montgomery VFW Post 12223 who aided in the project, and generously provided funds for materials along with McCoy's Building Supply.

"This project shows the discipline and hard work people will put in just to make something look better," MHS JROTC Cadet LT COL Kyle Boehm.

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net

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