Local teen revamps cemetery to become Eagle Scout
Above, Alejandro Jimenez (left) and volunteer Carl Hughlett (right) place part of the border for the fence line landscaping at the True Love Cemetery.
May 27, 2015
Charlea Mills
Local Boy Scout Alejandro Jimenez, a senior at Southwest High School, is taking on a large task to benefit a local cemetery as part of his drive to become an Eagle Scout.
Jimenez has been a Boy Scout since he was 11. This summer, he hopes to complete the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, and with that in mind, he planned a special service project to benefit the True Love Cemetery.
Jimenez, through the help of others from his church and the Boy Scouts, are doing a large landscaping project at the cemetery to improve the grounds. Typically, an Eagle Scout project consists of around 30 man hours between all of the people involved, however, this project is anticipated to be over 150 hours with everyone who is helping.
Jimenez said, “It’s bigger than most projects, but I wanted to have the community involved as well, because it gives a good name to the Boy Scout organization. By landscaping along the fence line, the community and the relatives of people who are buried here will appreciate it.”
Over the past weekend, Jimenez, with some help, started doing the border, levelling the ground and getting things ready for the majority of the work which will take place this weekend. Jimenez said, “To finish it, we’ll be putting in gravel and plants.”
Jimenez said that over 30 people are scheduled to come help on Saturday beginning at around 8 a.m. until they finish. It is a project that positively impacts the community and also draws respect for the people buried at the cemetery.
When asked why he became interested in scouting, Jimenez said, “The LDS Church is a huge proponent of the Boy Scouts, so that’s why I decided to get involved. It builds leadership and gets me involved not only in academics and school, but something that gets me out of my comfort zone.” Jimenez laughed, “I don’t think I even have a comfort zone anymore.”
True Love Cemetery is located between Exeter and Washburn and lies next to where Jimenez lives with his family. He said, “I live right there and can see my contribution every day, so that’s why I chose this project.”
Jimenez continued, “My dad got into communications with the True Love Cemetery Association, and that’s where it all started.” Jimenez then got help from a member from his church, Pat Endicott, who drew up the landscaping plans.
A variety of businesses in the community contributed to the project once they learned what Jimenez was hoping to accomplish. Locally, Eagan’s Supply, of Washburn, Cassville MFA and Cassville Ramey donated supplies and food for volunteers, and he also received donations of materials and plants from Lowe’s in Rogers, Ark., Meeks, of Rogers, Ark., Ward Dirt Relocators, of Neosho, Perennials, Etc., of Garfield, Ark., and Tyson’s.
Jimenez said, “It’s an opportunity for the community to contribute to a worthy cause and participate in an important civic responsibility. I find it refreshing to witness the willingness of businesses to help.”
To earn the Eagle rank, a scout must complete seven categories of involvement. They must be active in their troop for at least six months after becoming a Life Scout, demonstrate that they live by the Scout Law in daily life, earn 21 merit badges, serve for six months as a Life Scout in a position of responsibility, complete a service project, take part in a unit leader conference and complete the Eagle Scout board of review. To date, Jimenez has earned 33 merit badges.
Jimenez is a member of Boy Scout Troop 977 which is led by scoutmaster Sam Bennion and assistant scoutmasters Prudencio Jimenez and James Hughlett. Alejandro is the son of Marisela and Prudencio Jimenez.
If you are interested in volunteering this Saturday, May 30, for the True Love Cemetery project, contact Jimenez at (417) 619-3003.
Charlea Mills
Local Boy Scout Alejandro Jimenez, a senior at Southwest High School, is taking on a large task to benefit a local cemetery as part of his drive to become an Eagle Scout.
Jimenez has been a Boy Scout since he was 11. This summer, he hopes to complete the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, and with that in mind, he planned a special service project to benefit the True Love Cemetery.
Jimenez, through the help of others from his church and the Boy Scouts, are doing a large landscaping project at the cemetery to improve the grounds. Typically, an Eagle Scout project consists of around 30 man hours between all of the people involved, however, this project is anticipated to be over 150 hours with everyone who is helping.
Jimenez said, “It’s bigger than most projects, but I wanted to have the community involved as well, because it gives a good name to the Boy Scout organization. By landscaping along the fence line, the community and the relatives of people who are buried here will appreciate it.”
Over the past weekend, Jimenez, with some help, started doing the border, levelling the ground and getting things ready for the majority of the work which will take place this weekend. Jimenez said, “To finish it, we’ll be putting in gravel and plants.”
Jimenez said that over 30 people are scheduled to come help on Saturday beginning at around 8 a.m. until they finish. It is a project that positively impacts the community and also draws respect for the people buried at the cemetery.
When asked why he became interested in scouting, Jimenez said, “The LDS Church is a huge proponent of the Boy Scouts, so that’s why I decided to get involved. It builds leadership and gets me involved not only in academics and school, but something that gets me out of my comfort zone.” Jimenez laughed, “I don’t think I even have a comfort zone anymore.”
True Love Cemetery is located between Exeter and Washburn and lies next to where Jimenez lives with his family. He said, “I live right there and can see my contribution every day, so that’s why I chose this project.”
Jimenez continued, “My dad got into communications with the True Love Cemetery Association, and that’s where it all started.” Jimenez then got help from a member from his church, Pat Endicott, who drew up the landscaping plans.
A variety of businesses in the community contributed to the project once they learned what Jimenez was hoping to accomplish. Locally, Eagan’s Supply, of Washburn, Cassville MFA and Cassville Ramey donated supplies and food for volunteers, and he also received donations of materials and plants from Lowe’s in Rogers, Ark., Meeks, of Rogers, Ark., Ward Dirt Relocators, of Neosho, Perennials, Etc., of Garfield, Ark., and Tyson’s.
Jimenez said, “It’s an opportunity for the community to contribute to a worthy cause and participate in an important civic responsibility. I find it refreshing to witness the willingness of businesses to help.”
To earn the Eagle rank, a scout must complete seven categories of involvement. They must be active in their troop for at least six months after becoming a Life Scout, demonstrate that they live by the Scout Law in daily life, earn 21 merit badges, serve for six months as a Life Scout in a position of responsibility, complete a service project, take part in a unit leader conference and complete the Eagle Scout board of review. To date, Jimenez has earned 33 merit badges.
Jimenez is a member of Boy Scout Troop 977 which is led by scoutmaster Sam Bennion and assistant scoutmasters Prudencio Jimenez and James Hughlett. Alejandro is the son of Marisela and Prudencio Jimenez.
If you are interested in volunteering this Saturday, May 30, for the True Love Cemetery project, contact Jimenez at (417) 619-3003.