photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Ben Roberts, a senior at Lawrence Free State High School, freshened up the Veterans Plot at Oak Hill Cemetery for his Eagle Scout project.

Just in time for Veterans Day, a Lawrence Eagle Scout candidate has freshened up the Veterans Plot near the entrance of Oak Hill Cemetery in East Lawrence.

Ben Roberts, a senior at Free State High School, completed the project with help from family and friends. The work included power washing and sealing the asphalt cross on the plot. Roberts also painted the white curbing that lines the asphalt and the gate at the plot’s entrance and planted bushes on either side of the sign identifying the plot.

It’s a project that has special meaning for Roberts because his great-uncle is buried on the plot; he was a corporal in the Marines and served as an infantry radio operator during the Vietnam War. Roberts’ service project workbook notes that the project was intended to “show proper respect for those who fought for our country,” and to let people’s loved ones be at peace in a clean environment.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Roberts told the Journal-World. “This is probably the most work I’ve ever led or done in my life. It’s pretty nice to see it all come together.”

photo by: Erik S. Perrins

A drone photo shows the Veterans Plot at Oak Hill Cemetery after Ben Roberts’ Eagle Scout project was completed.

The work started Oct. 7 and continued until Oct. 16. It wasn’t without hitches, Roberts said — there were issues with their borrowed power washer and a number of trips to the hardware store.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

As part of his project, Roberts also planted small bushes on either side of the sign identifying the Veterans Plot.

Roberts has been in Scouts for more than a decade. He started Cub Scouts in first grade, and has been a member of Scouts BSA Troop 53 — chartered to Christ Community Church in Lawrence — since 2016. To earn the Eagle Scout rank, a Scout has to earn 21 merit badges and complete a service project, and now that his project is complete, Roberts has only a few steps left. He still has to get a few reference letters and earn a merit badge called “Citizenship in Society” that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership.

“It feels pretty good,” Roberts said of being this close to finishing one of Scouting’s highest achievements.

photo by: Contributed

Ben Roberts power washes the asphalt at the Veterans Plot in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Roberts said being in Scouts has been a great opportunity to make friends he wouldn’t have known otherwise, and that he’s enjoyed his trips to “High-Adventure Bases,” such as an 80-mile hike at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He also went sailing at the Florida Sea Base, which happened to coincide with his spring break at the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was weird being on a boat and having no signal and coming back and (learning) that there was a national emergency,” Roberts said.

Roberts’ father, Troy Roberts, said he was proud of Ben for being close to the Eagle rank, and he said that Ben picked a worthy cause for his service project.

“Being out here in person, the number of people that come in and go see people and have a moment with a loved one, it was pretty touching,” Troy said.