Georgetown scout leads community project to create scatter garden, memorial

By on Sunday, June 9, 2024
  • : Scout Trevor Suggs stands with the new memorial wall. Photos courtesy BJ MacMillan
    : Scout Trevor Suggs stands with the new memorial wall. Photos courtesy BJ MacMillan
  • From left, Kimberly Garrett of Georgetown Parks and Recreation who manages the cemetery, Trevor Suggs, the Scout, and Mayor Josh Schroeder.
    From left, Kimberly Garrett of Georgetown Parks and Recreation who manages the cemetery, Trevor Suggs, the Scout, and Mayor Josh Schroeder.
  • Scout Trevor Suggs spreads remains in the new scatter garden.
    Scout Trevor Suggs spreads remains in the new scatter garden.

    The International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Georgetown is now home to a new scatter garden for cremation ashes, a memorial wall and a flag pole thanks to a community project led by Boy Scout Trever Suggs. 

    A ribbon cutting was held at the garden May 23. Trevor’s Eagle Project took about 15 months to organize, design and fundraise, with a price tag of about $50,000. 

    Trevor is a 15-year-old scout who is part of Boy Scout Troop 405, which is chartered by Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown. 

    The project is the first community scatter garden in the state of Texas for cremation ashes. All four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries have a scatter garden, however only veterans and their spouses are eligible to be spread there. 

    American Legion Post Commander BJ MacMillan said Trevor had a dream to make a long lasting, significant impact with his Eagle Project. 

    “This scatter garden is a place for loved ones to be memorialized in a cemetery by spreading their ashes in a beautiful and peaceful garden of rocks,” she said. “ Because of this scout, we now have a U.S. flag pole in the IOOF cemetery where the remains of over 700 veterans rest.” 

    The garden includes a large, raised scatter bed with two boulders, decorative river rock and a limestone border. The project also includes a wall to memorialize scattered individuals, a 25-foot-tall flagpole with an American flag, two limestone benches for loved ones to reflect on their memories, and a 945-square-foot concrete walkway. 

    The ribbon cutting was attended by community members, as well as city and county staff. The City of Georgetown oversees the IOOF Cemetery. 

    During the event, Trevor spoke about his project, outlining coordination with the city, organizations, businesses and community leaders to gather funds, donated materials and labor. 

    Project partners included Covey Planning + Landscape Architects, Lauren Concrete, Superior Stone, Austin Flag & Flagpole, Salado Stone, Starks Welding, Westar Construction, the Austin Chapter of the IOOF’s volunteer organization and scouts from Boy Scout Troops in Georgetown. 

    “The entire project was a community effort, but the real kudos goes to this young man who went above and beyond in something that truly will make a long lasting and significant impact for generations to come,” Ms. MacMillan said. 

    After the ribbon-cutting, Joaquin and Corwin Diaz raised the inaugural flag at the site. Jay McEntire, an Eagle Scout from Troop 405, then played the National Anthem on his trumpet. Then, Trevor scattered the ashes of the first person to be laid to rest in the garden. 

    International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery