Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Scout Stands Tall
LANDON REEVES HONORS GRANDFATHER, VETERANS
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”
Teenager and Eagle Scout candidate Landon Reeves opened a ceremony at Bethesda Cemetery last Saturday with this quote attributed to former President George Washington.
More than 100 people gathered at the cemetery just outside of Lincoln as Landon and Troop 16 out of Alma dedicated a memorial which Landon hopes will be a, “Lasting tribute to all who served.” Landon and the scouts raised over $4,300 to construct the monument.
Landon thought of his grandfather, Corporal Bert Reeves, a Korean War veteran, when deciding what genre of service project he should perform in his pursuits at becoming an Eagle Scout.
“My thought was to design a memorial that could be used to properly honor a veteran during their funeral service, could be used throughout the year as a place of reflection for our great nation and
could start a tradition here at Bethesda for an annual Wreath Laying every Veteran’s Day.”
The memorial designed by Landon is very impressive. At the center, stands a long flagpole stretching towards the sky. Around the flagpole’s base is a compass; Landon quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 when asked what the meaning of the compass was, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
Landon also wanted a component of the memorial to be directed specifically towards the country’s revered veterans. He decided on a quote from General George S. Patton, which reads, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
The Eagle Scout candidate said that, “at first I thought his words were harsh in saying that we shouldn’t mourn [our veterans’] passing, but I understood that the basis of what he was saying is that we should thank God that we were in the presence of these men for the time that we had with them.”
Landon comes- off as anything but a typical teenager. He commanded the microphone during the service surrounded by not only dozens of spectators, but also by five members of the National Guard–Golf Company, 1st-206 Field Artillery division and several members from the Siloam Springs American Legion Post 29.
The National Guard soldiers would solemnly post the colors and conduct the pledge of allegiance.
The soldiers from the American Legion would then place the wreath as the first, “small token of the gratitude and respect we have for our veterans,” as Landon explained. There was then a monologue presented by Landon that would bring chills to all who were present.
“Standing together around this monument today, we are surrounded by the spirits of those who have served our country. Those who have sacrificed so much for the very freedom for us to gather here– Patriots not seeking fortune or fame, just merely serving the nation they loved.
“But before there could be a nation, there had to be those willing to fight for it and to defend it. From the first shot fired at Concord to the present day, our men and women have continued to answer the call to duty in defense of not only our nation, but for freedom throughout the world.
“What other country has done as much for freedom and liberty worldwide as has the United States of America?
“Whenever the weak cannot defend themselves, America has answered that call by sending Her very best. We do this because we are a compassionate people who value freedom.
“This has made our flag a symbol of liberty which is recognized throughout the world. And what greater ambassadors of liberty are there than the professional men and women of the American Armed Forces?
“Today, we overuse the word, ‘Hero.’ We call people heroes for simply speaking their mind or being talented at sports. A true hero is someone who is willing to give his or her life to something bigger than themselves. The brave men and women of America’s Armed Forces who are ready to lay down their lives in defense of our great nation, they are America’s true heroes.”
These words came from the mouth of a boy striving to earn the title of “Eagle Scout.” His actions, though, are speaking loudly enough. Make the five minute drive out of Lincoln toward that small cemetery at Bethesda and you can see the proof. It stands tall. Just like the scout who made it happen.