Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Features: Eagle Scout's project taught him organization skills (01/31/10)

Noah and his fellow scouts work on the landscaping and include a variety of plants to provide blooms throughout the growing season.
(Submitted photo)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Scouts across the nation are celebrating this year because of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary -- but some Scouts have more reason to celebrate than others. Noah Friedman has dedicated most of his young life to Scouting and recently earned the Rank of Eagle Scout.

Noah is a junior at Community High School. He plans on attending the Middle Tennessee State University to major in music education after he graduates. In his own words, he talks about his Eagle project and his extraordinary accomplishment.

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Being Senior Patrol Leader of my Troop has taught me a lot about being a leader, but my Eagle Scout Project taught me a lot about what it takes to organize and lead a successful project. To effectively carry out my project, I had to come up with a plan, seek donations, get the materials, and recruit people to help with the project. It was my responsibility to act as a project manager and bring all this together. I received donations from the Community Lion's Club, Cedar Grove United Methodist Church members, the extended family of Marvin Smotherman, and my papa, Larry King, and uncle, Stephen King.

My Scout troop, Troop 699, and I built two park benches and landscaping plots to go in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The benches were made out of Eastern red cedar from my papa's farm. The reason I chose to do this project is because I noticed at Decoration Day that there was nowhere for people to relax and reflect when they came to visit their loved ones who have gone on. The landscaping will add beauty to the surroundings and help to make the visit more comfortable and welcoming. The plants selected for the landscaping were chosen so that something in the plot would be blooming year round.

I also catalogued and mapped out all the people who were interred there. This map will help people to locate the relatives that they are looking for. The map can be found at www.gbgm-umc.org/cedargroveumc.

Bill Beasley, my sponsor and the head of the cemetery Board of Directors, was extremely pleased with the results of the project. The entire project took a total of 139 man hours.

I have learned a lot from carrying out this project. It has given me a new understanding of what it takes to start with an idea and turn it into a finished product. Taking on the role of project manager was a challenge and I have a new respect for people who have chosen to do this every day.