Cochise Composite Squadron 107 Cadet completes Eagle Scout Project

By: Major Ryan Newman, Cochise Composite Squadron 107

On a beautifully clear Saturday morning, C/Amn William Newman of Sierra Vista Squadron 107, and more than twenty volunteers gathered at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery to carry out a day of hard work. This day of work was the culmination of three months of planning, gathering approvals and fund-raising for William’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Since the inception of Scouting in America, there have been more than two million boys who have attained the Rank of Eagle Scout.

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project has evolved from 1927, when the requirement to “show satisfactory service” for advancement to Eagle Scout was adopted. In 1952 the requirement was further defined to “do our best to help in your home, school, church or synagogue, and community.” In 1965 the requirement to specifically conduct a “service project” was incorporated. The Eagle Scout candidate was required to “plan, develop, and carry out a leadership project.” In 1972, the most recent change to the Eagle Project requires that leadership be demonstrated “during the service project.”

Since “Leadership” is the order of the day, Life Scout William Newman planned a project where there could be no question of his ability to organize and lead the efforts of many volunteers to complete a project that will benefit the entire Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca communities. There are numerous civic and veteran organizations that conduct Flag Retirement Ceremonies for the community. The retirement ceremony is performed in many differing ways by many organizations and none is incorrect – if it is performed “in a dignified way.”

The problem has not been the method, but the location. Because no single facility exists for such ceremonies, it has been performed over burn barrels, rust covered grills and other burn devices. Making a mental note of this deficiency, C/Amn Newman worked with Joe Larson, Administrator of the Southern Arizona Veterans‘ Memorial Cemetery, to design, fund-raise for materials and lead a team of volunteers to build a suitable facility to carry out Flag Retirement ceremonies. The plan was developed with the guidance of Mr. Larson before being proposed to the Scouting Leadership. After weeks of review, changes and three levels of Scout approval, C/Amn Newman was given the approval to proceed beyond the planning phase.

Now the real work began as C/Amn Newman was able to begin ordering materials and conduct fund-raising. Seeking the best deals on materials took C/Amn Newman to several building supply establishments. With a materials bill that is almost one thousand dollars, he has a formidable fund-raising challenge. Fortunately, the service and veterans organizations were impressed with C/Amn Newman’s project and begin contributing financially. After two written applications and four public presentations C/Amn Newman acquired the funds needed to set a date for his project. Consulting with Mr. Larson, the project was scheduled for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Fast forward to 29 May and C/Amn Newman, along with more than twenty volunteers converge on the Veterans’ Cemetery for a day of hard work. There now exists a facility fitting for conducting Flag Retirement Ceremonies in Sierra Vista and C/Amn Newman is one large step closer to Eagle Scout.