Kendall Boy Scouts working on large war memorial at the town park
KENDALL – Four Boy Scouts in Kendall’s Troop 94 are working together to build a war memorial at the town park. The four Scouts are each in charge of a different phase of the memorial for their Eagle Scout projects.
Ryan Barrett, Noah Rath, Jayden Pieniaszek and Brian Shaw have joined forces in the project. This is the first joint Eagle Scout project that Scoutmaster Ken Spohr is aware of. He praised the Scouts for working together on an ambitious effort. They have already given public presentations to about a dozen groups, with more planned.
“They’re reaching out to everyone in the community,” Spohr said. “It’s a very big ask that they’ve chosen to do, but they are well on their way to getting it done.”
The memorial includes a brick wall that will be 4 feet tall and stretch nearly 40 feet long. There will be concrete medallions on the wall for the five branches of the military and six plaques about different wars where Kendall residents fought, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War 1, World War II, the Korean War and Persian Gulf War.
Memorial bricks will be placed along a sidewalk at the memorial. The bricks are available for $100 each.
Ryan Barrett and Jayden Pieniaszek presented the idea of the memorial to the Troop. They both have family who have served in the military and they wanted to town to recognize the community’s veterans. Noah Rath and Brian Shaw also wanted to be part of the project.
“They sketched it out,” Spohr said about the Scouts’ plans for the memorial. “It was amazing to watch. “These four are always looking for ways to help their community.”
They have divvied up the project into four phases.
Ryan Barrett is in charge of the first phase, which is complete and includes putting in the foundation for the wall, a stone memorial and three flag poles.
Jayden Pieniaszek is leading the second phase which includes construction of the brick wall, which is 36 feet long, 3 ½ feet wide and 4 feet tall.
Noah Rath is heading up phase three which includes the medallions for each five branches of military. Rath will also lead the efforts to have two 25-foot flag poles and get the electricity set up so the memorial and sidewalk can be lighted up at night.
Brian Shaw is coordinating phase four which includes final grading and planting cedar trees behind the memorial, which will provide a buffer for the neighbors and also enhance the site. Shaw will also manage getting the six plaques on the memorial for the different wars where Kendall soldiers served.
Spohr said organizations and residents have joined the effort to build the memorial with in-kind services and financial donations.
For more information about the project, check the Facebook page for the Kendall War Memorial, or email KendallWarMemorial@gmail.com.
Checks to support the project can be made out to Kendall Troop 94, and sent to c/o Ken Spohr 1928 Moscow Rd. Hamlin, NY 14464.