HOWELL – A local Boy Scout who proposed moving military monuments to a new location as his Eagle Scout project provided an update on his work to the members of the Howell Township Council during a recent meeting.
When he appeared before the council in February, Boy Scout Brendan Mueller of Troop 300, which is chartered by St. Veronica’s Church, Howell, proposed moving monuments that honor military veterans from the former municipal complex on Preventorium Road to Soldier Memorial Park on Lakewood-Farmingdale Road.
At that time, council members gave Brendan permission to proceed with the project.
The monuments honor military veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Brendan said representatives of the New Jersey Monument Company, Howell, were going to help him move the monuments to Soldier Memorial Park. He said he received support for the project from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and from local veterans groups.
On Dec. 14, Brendan, who is working to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, returned to Howell town hall to provide an update about his project. He said the work is almost finished.
“I am just waiting on engraved pavers that will go in a little area at the front of the project. … As soon as the pavers are finished I am going to lay them down.
“After that is done and after I have the project signed off, I am going to work with everybody to get an official unveiling date. And I have about $1,500 left which I am going to donate to two charities I found,” he said.
One charity is the Gary Sinise Foundation, which offers programs, services and events for wounded military veterans.
The second charity is the Semper Fi Fund, which provides programs to assist wounded veterans in all branches of the U.S. armed forces.
Brendan provided details of his work to Township Manager Brian Geoghegan in the hope that Howell officials will sign off on the project so he can proceed with the official board review that will advance him to the rank of Eagle Scout.
Mayor Theresa Berger told Brendan, “You are an amazing young man and younger men should look up to you. You really have proven yourself to be outstanding. Thank you very much for what you do for the town.”
Geoghegan said municipal officials would like to improve a handicap parking area near the new memorial at Soldier Memorial Park and make some other improvements at the site.
“My hope is to have that work done in early spring and then we can do a public unveiling (of the new memorial) shortly after,” the township manager said.