GAINESVILLE — The Veterans Memorial Garden at the Gainesville Masonic Lodge got a facelift over the weekend thanks to the efforts of a member of Boy Scout Troop 130 in Flowery Branch.
Zachary Martin - with some help from his fellow troop members - built new crosses for the memorial garden as his Eagle Scout Project. The crosses were officially presented to the Gainesville Masonic Lodge #215 F. & A.M. at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 24.
Martin said while the project was an Eagle Scout requirement, it became much more than that as he worked on the crosses.
"It's the right thing to do," said Martin after the ceremony. "These people lost their lives for us, they kept us safe and one of the ways to thank them was to make crosses for them."
The crosses have been on display each Memorial Day and Veterans Day for the past 15 years at the property on Highway 53, but they had never been replaced. When Martin found out the old crosses were in disrepair, he knew exactly what his Eagle Scout project would be.
A number of local dignitaries were on hand for the Saturday event including State Representatives Lee Hawkins and Carl Rogers of Gainesville and Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. Members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America and reserve members of all branches of the military attended the ceremony, as well.
Zachary Martin of Boy Scout Troop 130 in Flowery Branch is responsible for building the new cross the for Veterans Memorial Garden at the Gainesville Masonic Lodge. (Photo by David Cook)
(Left to right) State Representative Carl Rogers, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch, State Representative Lee Hawkins and Hall County State Court Solicitor Stephanie Woodard attend the Saturday ceremony. (Photo by David Cook)
Military veterans and members of the Gainesville Masonic Lodge #215 F. & A.M. begin the process of placing the new crosses on the lodge property in Gainesville.
The crosses are displayed every Memorial Day and Veterans Day at the Gainesville Masonic Lodge property on Dawsonville Highway (Hwy. 53).
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/10/345121/local-scout-gives-a-fresh-look-to-memorial-garden-in-time-for-veterans-day