Scout builds memorial

Spencer Miller completes garden for MCRPD

By NICK MALAWSKEY, Sentinel reporter, nmalawskey@lewistownsentinel.com
YEAGERTOWN — As visitors climb the steps to the Mifflin County Regional Police barracks, they will pass a small decorative garden set into the hill.

In that garden sits a memorial dedicated to the men and women who have fallen in the line of duty.

The memorial and the garden were built by volunteers, under the direction of a young man working to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

On Thursday, Mifflin County Regional Police Chief William Herkert discussed the work of Spencer Miller, of Boy Scout Troop 6, and what it means for the department.

“We’re very fortunate that Spencer did this,” Herkert said.

Before becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts, a boy must complete an Eagle Project — a public work entailing hundreds of hours of community service.

Miller said he didn’t know what to do for a project, but one of his troop’s committee members had an idea.

Sgt. John Chester, an officer with the department, is himself an Eagle Scout. He put Miller in contact with the department, and from there it was “merely a few hours” of hard work — about 212 for Miller to complete the project.

In total, Miller would construct two gardens for the department — one at the front of the building and another on the side — dedicated to the victims of crime. He also refurbished the department’s flag pole.

Herkert said the projects “set a tone for the community,” as well as for the officers.

Herkert said it is his hope that the two memorials will cause people to think about the value of police work in their community, as well as those who have been victims of crime.

“We couldn’t be happier,” Herkert said. “Not only did he do a great job, but he also completed it prior to Police Memorial Week (May 11-17).”

Miller, of Ort Valley, said he could not have completed the project without the help of his fellow scouts.

“I had a lot of help with it from the troop,” he said, including his scout master, Mark Amig, and assistant scout master, Lynn Mitchell.

Miller’s father, Bob, noted that Miller’s uncle also was an Eagle Scout. He said he could not be prouder of his son.

“The day he has his ceremony will be one of the highlights of my life,” he said.