Congregation Gathers to Dedicate Eagle Scout Project

The rain held off just long enough Sunday morning for a dedication ceremony to honor the work of one Stephen Alscher, future Eagle Scout.

For more than a year and a half now, Alscher has led Troop 295, his family and his congregation in a project to create a 12-foot by 22-foot memorial garden in Nativity Lutheran Church’s backyard. A combination of dedication, hard work and sacrifice by the 16-year-old and his supporters allowed them to overcome a series of setbacks, and finish the project.

But one of the most important contributors in this last phase of the project was actually not a member of any of the groups mentioned above.

Dave Thomas, of the company Scratch the Surface in Oaklyn, was the first vendor contacted by Stephen for the project. The two-person company worked with Alscher in acquiring the 8-inch square, red clay pavers and lead him to Rock Products in Thorofare where they could be engraved.

Scratch the Surface didn't have the 88 pavers needed for the project, so Thomas drove all the way out to Ohio to get more of the red clay pavers without charging the scout anything extra for the trip.

“We wouldn’t be this far if he hadn’t driven all the way out there,” said Scott Alscher, Stephen's father, adding that another vendor they had contacted said they wouldn't drive out there to get them unless they were picking up an entire tractor trailer full.

“People who do these kind of jobs every day couldn’t have done a better job," Thomas said in reference to Alscher's project. “It’s projects like this that you really get into the more personal end of it." 

He and his business partner, Cecilia Sparks, presented the young Scout with a personally engraved paver reading “Scratch The Surface Brick Engraving Honors Stephen Alscher Proud Eagle Scout” during the dedication ceremony.

The dedication began with a short speech by Pastor Ken Regan to the entire congregation from the 10:30 a.m. service and others who were in attendance. As they huddled around the memorial garden, the sun fought to break through looming rain clouds, and Alscher lead them in a reading from the Bible.

He then thanked all of the people and vendors that helped, including his family, volunteers, and members of the congregation that had purchased pavers to be engraved.

The pastor ended the dedication by thanking Stephen for providing the rectangular memorial garden which would be there for “future generations.” He noted that there were still plenty of blank pavers that could still be engraved around the cross’ border, and then acknowledged all of the people in attendance that dedicated time and money to the project.

Most of the congregation then headed off to another church event, but a few friends and family members stayed behind for photos and reflection before the skies opened up.

“I’m real proud of him,” said Scott Alscher. “The finished product came out great.”

Scoutmaster of Troop 295, Mark Harris, also stayed behind and gave us a few words about the project.

“It all started with Stephen,” said Harris. “It was Stephen’s concept, it was his idea. As we stand here today we can see the culmination of his idea. I think it came out beautiful. We’re all extremely proud of the job he did.”

The Scoutmaster added that the project had many challenges, including working in 3-and-a-half inches of torrential rain.

“It seems like an Eagle project should have some challenges,” said Harris. “It teaches the boy how to handle those challenges. As you can see by the way it came out, he handled those challenges very, very well. He’s on the path to good things.”

Seeing the completed work has lead to members of his church asking about engravings.

“It looks very nice. Actually, better than most people envisioned,” said Regan. “A lot of people, now having seen it, wish they had purchased a memorial tile, and now have been asking if they can do so.”

But the trail to Eagle Scout isn’t quite finished for Stephen Alscher.

If all goes well, he'll will be attending a Scoutmaster Conference today, where he and the Scoutmaster will discuss his path towards Eagle, and his paperwork will be sent to the BSA council for approval on Wednesday. 

After that, in a projected two to three weeks, he will then have an Eagle Board of Review, where multiple leaders will go over the work he has done to earn this honor.

The expected date for his Eagle Ceremony, where he will be honored by his troop and community, will most likely be in the beginning of June, and will be held at the Nativity Lutheran Church in Wenonah.