Have you seen all the white crosses in City Park? If not, go check it out. Most of us know what they symbolize the crosses were something Veteran’s Day organizers have waited for several years but couldn’t get done. Then, in stepped 14-year-old Scout Ethan Burgoon who wanted to complete the crosses as part of his Eagle Scout project. One cross for each Franklin County resident who was killed in action, 197 in all. Ray Shumate, Boy Scout Troop 77 leader Chuck Stevens and Ethan’s grandfather, Richard Burgoon all helped in the planning. The crosses were carefully placed, after hours of assembly. The crosses are grouped by war; World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Iraqi War.
It was the last cross that was placed that hit home. It was in memory of Marine Lance Corporal Christopher Wasser, a Boy Scout from Troop 77 in Ottawa, who died in April of 2004 in an attack in Iraq.
With his project completed, Ethan will now wait before receiving approval for his project, and eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. If you haven’t seen it, stop, take a moment to walk through. The Veteran’s Day display in City Park is expected to remain for two weeks before it is disassembled and put away for the year.
