Boy Scout's goal is to install flag poles
Jacob Lee, right, leads Boy Scout Troop 78 members Evan Hebdon, left, and Cole Christensen in a dress rehearsal of the flag raising at the Royal Community Center.
ROYAL CITY - Jacob Lee's Eagle Scout project, which he completed recently, was the installation of a flag pole and the raising of a U.S. flag at the new Royal City Community Center.
Now he has a personal goal to install as many flag poles as possible in the Royal community. It will not be a Scouting project, and he hopes to convince the community to participate with financial support.
Lee's inspiration was a segment he watched on the Glenn Beck television show. Beck featured Ben Baker of Covington, Tenn., who's been installing flag poles.
Covington had met Afghanistan war veteran Greg Stube, who was injured in combat. After speaking with Stube, Covington decided to install flag poles in his neighborhood "to say 'thank you' to Greg and all the warriors, past and present." He has put up about 30 so far.
Lee has no idea how many poles he can accomplish. To be done as well as the one at the community center, they require about $1,000 and donated labor.
The pole cost $775. Lee saved a little shipping cost by ordering the 5-foot by 8-foot $79 flag from Colonial Flag of Utah.
Lee had three key helpers on the community center project. Mark Ferguson donated and poured the concrete. Volunteers Ryan and Gary Piercy helped him finished it.
"He called them and offered to pay, but they wouldn't hear of it," said Lee's mother, Christa Lee.
Lee put his own hands in the mud as well. Counting his time and that of his benefactors, 75 hours of labor went into the project.
Lee started scouting at the age of eight. He set a goal of making Eagle before 14 and started to pursue the project in January. Most Eagle badges are won by 16-to-18- year-olds.
First Lee needed the approval of the Royal Golf Association. Then he needed approval from regional Boy Scout leader Roger Durkee of Othello, and that required an interview.
"He had to see if I was capable of doing it," Lee said.
Lee also needed approval from local Boy Scout leader Tyler Frank.
All that's left for Lee to do is hand in the paper work on his project. The badge, of which he is confident, will come after that and shortly after he turns 14.
"At least I finished my Eagle Scout project before I turned 14," he said.
Only if you don't think of additional flag poles as Scouting projects. Lee plans to remain a Scout through the age of 18 and then become a leader.
Meanwhile, he may come knocking on your door to see if you'd like to put up a pole or help put up a pole.