An effort to build a monument in Cranberry to commemorate 100 years of Scouting has garnered money and attention, some from faraway places and noteworthy individuals.
Among contributors to the Centennial Scouting Plaza & Lake are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former presidential candidate and an Eagle Scout who ponied up $125 to buy a paving block. The blocks, which will be inscribed at the donor's request, are being sold as one of the fundraising vehicles for the $140,000 project.
"We were really thrilled," said Bruce Mazzoni, president of Cranberry Township Community Chest, the lead civic organization in a partnership to bring the monument to fruition. Mr. Mazzoni also is chairman of the township board of supervisors.
The official groundbreaking for the monument, located at Graham Park off Rochester Road, was in July.
The monument is aimed at honoring the centennial anniversaries of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. Officials believe the monument is the only one in the country that celebrates the centennial anniversaries of Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America marked its 100th anniversary in 2010; the Girl Scouts of America will mark 100 years this year.
The monument will be in an open-air flagstone plaza at the edge of a stocked fishing pond just beyond the Graham Park baseball campus. The triptych -- meaning three panels -- will depict a mother holding her young daughter's hand and a father carrying his young son; the boy and the girl as Scouts, saluting the American flag; and the Scouts in graduation caps and gowns.
Mr. Mazzoni said he expects construction of the monument to begin in June and be finished in August or September.
He said fundraising recently surpassed the $106,000 mark for cash and inkind donations. The single biggest donation from a private person came from Neva McClymonds, who gave $10,000 in memory of her husband, John, who died last year.
"Our family feels it will be a lasting memory. We have seen a lot of positive changes to Cranberry, and it is fitting that this memorial will be in Graham Park where many of John's grandchildren will play," Mrs. McClymonds said. She and her husband, who owned Cranberry Supply Co. on Rowan Road, moved to the township in 1974. The company deals in gravel, sand wood chips and other building materials.
Mr. Mazzoni said local businesses have been generous. Graham and Son construction of Ellwood City excavated the lake for free, and Herbert Rowland & Grubic Inc. of Cranberry volunteered its design and engineering services. Woodmen of the World Life Insurance, with a local office in Butler, is donating three flag poles, and Rome Monuments of Rochester is engraving the pavers at no cost. Cranberry donated the land.
Other major donors include the Glenn R. Logan and Rhea Jean McCandless Logan Family Trust, Butler Tourism, PNC Financial, the family of Thomas Coyle, First Energy, Cranberry Lions Club, William P. Deemer, C.W. Howard Insurance Agency Inc., Robert and Kimberly Geyer, Fun Fore All, Patricia and David Kovach, Sherwood Oaks, Zelienople Lions, Butler Rotary, Roy and Linda Huffman, Dale and Millie Pinkerton, and Ray D. Steffler.
Mr. Mazzoni acknowledged "the united effort" of the community at large that is moving the effort forward.
"So many people and organizations are involved," he said, estimating that some 100 donations have been made.
Mr. Perry was enticed to contribute to the cause by a solicitation from Cranberry Township Community Chest.
"We identified about 600 famous ex-Scouters, and we were able to get the addresses of close to 300. We sent out personal notes to all of them. Gov. Perry was the first one to respond with a donation," Mr. Mazzoni said.
"Proud to add my name and support to the 100th anniversary of Scouting Plaza effort," Mr. Perry wrote in a personal note that accompanied his check. "Look forward to seeing its completion and continuing to tell the great story of Scouting. Here's to another 100 years!!"
He made his gift a week after suspending his presidential campaign.
The Cranberry area boasts thousands of Scouts: Some 431 girls are involved in Scouting in troops in Cranberry, while 670 boys participate in Scouting in the southern tier of Butler County.
To contribute, donors can complete a form found on the Community Chest website at www.CTCChest.org.
First Published: February 16, 2012, 11:00 a.m.
