Pine-Richland junior's Eagle Scout project commemorates fallen first responders

A Pine-Richland High School junior sought out a cause near and dear to his heart for his Eagle Scout project.

Nate Weigand of Troop 150 constructed a memorial to acknowledge local first responders and police officers at the Northern Regional Police Department headquarters in Pine.

“My father was a (military police officer) and I’ve always appreciated first responders and the military. I wanted to make something to honor fallen and active first responders,” Weigand said.

To obtain the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouts must earn 21 different merit badges and hold various leadership positions within the troop. Eagle Scout projects must be completed by the time the Scout turns 18.

Weigand met with Pine officials and the NRPD to get the ball rolling on his project. He presented his proposal for the memorial at the Pine board of supervisors meeting in October 2021. Township supervisor Jack Donahue and all the supervisors pledged to donate to the project personally.

Officer Jeff Jones of the NRPD detailed how Weigand contacted the agency in the fall of 2021 and explained he was working towards the rank of Eagle Scout and that he needed to complete a service project that benefited the community.

“Of course, like myself and several other Eagle Scouts in the building, we were in 100% agreement with Nate’s project and fully supported him moving forward to complete the memorial,” Jones said.

Weigand set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the project and sent envelopes to local businesses asking for donations. The NRPD also posted a link to the GoFundMe on their Facebook page to reach a wider audience.

“As recipients, our agency had the easy part in all the work completed and are greatly honored to have been chosen by Nate to be a part of his Eagle Scout Project,” Jones said.

The monument is a granite marker with a granite base. It sits approximately 20 inches wide and 24 inches tall.

Weigand and his fellow troop members cleared the site to prepare for the monument’s construction. The scouts then laid the foundation for the monument. Weigand also planted the shrubbery that surrounds the monument.

He reflected on the life lessons he learned while managing a community project of this size.

“It takes a lot of patience to do something big like this. I definitely gained more leadership skills, leading people in my troop to help build this memorial,” Weigand said.

Weigand will attend an Eagle Court of Honor later this year, which is held to celebrate the achievements of an individual who’s reached the pinnacle of Scouting and attained the final rank of Eagle. Weigand has also been working with Pine Township to plan a ceremony commemorating the monument that is tentatively set for the Saturday before Memorial Day.

“I’m extremely proud of Nate’s achievements. It’s been a long process but it has been full of great life lessons for him,” said Dave Weigand, Nate’s dad.