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Mike Lubash's Eagle Project Information...

Project Completed:
This project was completed on May 26th, 2008. A special thanks goes out to everyone for their great support concerning this project! Troop 323's first Eagle Project will be remembered by all! Below is a picture of Mike, his grandmother, and Mayor Frank Leffredo.

Original Project Description:
Well, let me start by giving you a little back ground on my thought process concerning this project. I recently had a family member die in the Iraq war which made me start thinking, I started thinking about my feelings and then my thoughts turned to thinking about other people’s feelings. Over the past summer I visited a few memorials and started thinking that maybe it would benefit others if Lake Villa had a memorial that could be constructed and dedicated to those that have died in past wars. I envision this memorial being located in a local park, just off the beaten path.

The memorial would consist of a circular patio with a large marker in the middle to identify those that have been lost in past wars in the area. The circular patio would be surrounded by shrubs, bushes, and flowers with benches allowing for peaceful meditation and a little privacy. The circular patio would be constructed of pavers bricks allowing bricks to be replaced with engraved brinks when needed.

Sample Marker that I like:

Idea on how my marker would look:

The large marker could be made of granite or some other type of stone. I am still looking into this and how to get the best price for something like this.

The Lake Villa VFW post will donate Armed Service Plaques for the project that will be presented accordingly on or around the marker. My original thoughts were to have the plaques mounted to the granite stone but I am currently entertaining ideas for better positioning of the plaques.

For the benches, I am currently thinking about using wood but it has come to my attention that the city may have a standard for benches that are used in city parks. If wood benches are approved I plan to have Scouts that are working on Star or Life build these benches as part of their service projects.


Who will benefit from my Project:
My project will benefit those that have lost loved ones in past wars. It will be a place where people in the community can go to remember things that have occurred in the past, remembering the good, the bad, and where it has now taken them.

The Lake Villa VFW post is currently sponsoring my project and the entire Village of Lake Villa will be who benefits from my project.

Here is a poem I would like to have on the marker:

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting  old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.


Project Details:
Here is a lists of tasks that need to be complete for this project to be a success. If you see something that you might be able to help me with please let me know. I would appreciate any help you can give.

Task List:
Granite slab:

  • Contact Vendors
  • Best Pricing
  • Decide on the best vendor
  • What to have engraved
Obtaining the bench material:

  • Contact Vendors
  • Best Pricing
  • Decide on the best vendor

Obtaining the pavers brick material:

  • Contact Vendors
  • Best Pricing
  • Decide on the best vendor

Digging out the ground to lay the pavers brick.

  • Exact Location
  • Marking out the Site
  • City Permits
  • City Surveyor to mark off easements and under ground hazards
  • Start digging

Install pavers bricks:

  • Delivery of foundation materials
  • Delivery of bricks
  • Installation of bricks

Installing the Granite Slab

  • Delivery of foundation materials
  • Delivery of slab
  • Installation of slab

Installing the benches

  • Delivery of bench materials
  • Building of benches
  • Setting up the benches

Installing the landscaping, bushes, shrubs, flowers

  • Delivery of landscaping materials
  • Planting of bushes, shrubs, and flowers

Project Dedication

 LakeVillaScouts.org - Troop 323 and Crew 323

 

 Sponsored by Lake Villa VFW Post #4308

 Please send comments about the website to Greg Tipton.

Troop 323 / Crew 323 Scout Logos