The Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association highly recommends and compliments the Boy Scouts of America. Their work in helping to preserve and maintain abandoned pioneer cemeteries has proven invaluable.

By contacting your area Boy Scout Council and offering assistance to any Life Scout working on his Eagle Project, your cemetery will reap many benefits. Scouts are always looking for Eagle Projects which require they devote a minimum of 100 hours. Imagine how much can be accomplished for your cemetery with that level of commitment!

Results of previous Eagle projects have been wonderful. Scouts have recorded gravestones, repaired fences, cleaned cemeteries, organized annual Memorial Day projects, cleared away dead tree limbs and shrubs, and provided archeological searches utilizing grids and probing techniques.

Once a Scout has decided to work on your cemetery, he must submit a proposal to a Scout Troop Committee for verification before proceeding. The OHCA suggests you attach an approval letter with the Scout’s proposal. The following wording, addressed to the Eagle Troop Committee chair, may be used:

We have reviewed the proposed Eagle Project of Scout _____________ and are greatly pleased. Preservation of our area cemeteries is a major problem across the United States. Funding of such historical projects in many cases is lacking. A project such as this taken on by the youth of our country not only helps the community and preserves our heritage, but teaches respect, removes the unfounded fears and tales surrounding cemetery lore and death, and builds a lasting curiosity in the history of our nation and communities.

The Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association fully approves of this and other projects of the same nature. We offer assistance and guidance to Scout ______________ in his endeavor as needed.