It was no easy task to rehab over 120 gravestones in a Steward cemetery, but Chris Holden of Ashton was on a mission to earn rank of Eagle Scout.
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STEWARD — It was no easy task to rehab over 120 gravestones in a Steward cemetery, but Chris Holden of Ashton was on a mission to earn rank of Eagle Scout.
Holden is a member of Boy Scout Troop 64 of Steward. Scoutmaster Robert Arne explained Holden noticed the broken and leaning gravestones at the Alto Township Cemetery. That was when he began his mission.
“After some research, Chris made a proposal to the Alto Township Board, the entity with authorization over the cemetery,” Arne said. “The board accepted his proposal and gave him permission to do a project.”
Holden enlisted over a dozen helpers from his troop, but because Holden played football and many of the other scouts were involved with soccer, scheduling work time was a challenge. The other was weather. As Arne puts it, Holden’s project was completed after some persistence.
“The project encountered three groups of gravestones. The first group was broken and needed to be pinned and cemented back together,” Arne explained. “David Hayes of Hayes Fine Cabinetry of Steward provided expertise and tools for this work.”
Arne said another group of stones, although intact, had to be dug and repositioned. A third group was covered in a fungus and algae-type organism called lichen.
“These were sprayed with ‘Wet and Forget,’ donated by Dennis Burkhart…12 gravestones were repaired, 10 were straightened, and about 100 stones were sprayed,” Arne said. “A total of 47 hours were expended by 13 workers.”
Holden shared his thoughts on the project.
“My project made me feel great, that I was able to give back to the community that supported my scouting years,” Holden began. “I want to make sure that my leaders, Bob and Pat Arne, get a huge thank you for everything they have done on my journey. They are absolutely amazing and wonderful leaders and people. They have been fantastic role models and teachers.”
Holden also thanked Dennis Burkhart for the opportunity to do the project.
Holden has been an active scout in Troop 64 since 2012, attending several summer camps and the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 2015.
He has earned 26 merit badges, which Arne says the Fishing Merit Badge is most memorable for Holden. After passing his Eagle Board of Review Dec. 12, 2017, Holden’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Steward United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m.
