MOUNT OLIVE (12/05/06) – Charlene Wood Uhrmann’s son, Eric Wood, is a candidate for Eagle Scout. As part of qualifying for the highest Boy Scouts of America designation, he conceptualized the project …. a Veteran’s Memorial in honor of war veterans statewide. It’s called an "All Veteran’s Memorial"

"Charlie" was a willing participant and worked with him on designing the memorial which will be located in Turkey Brook Park.

Both mother and son have been working on the project for almost a year and expect to have it completed by Veteran’s Day next year. So far, Charlie said has logged more than 3,200 hours on the project so that it has become nearly a full time job.

The project is being funded mainly through "commemorative pavers" that the Uhrmanns are selling for $25 each. Charlie hopes to sell 37,000 of the pavers, which in addition to funds already collected, will pay the cost. So far, just 3,000 have been sold but Charlie is confident the fund raising will be successful.

The pavers can memorialize any veteran from anywhere in the state who served in the armed forces in war time or in peace time. So far, Charlie says, she has received orders honoring veterans in wars as far back as the American Revolution.

The memorial is being re-located from its present location on Route 46 in Budd Lake to the center of Turkey Brook Park.

The artist rendering was done by Glen Pellet of Schemata Architects of Summit. It shows a preamble that will include 24 inch squares with the names of each U.S. President along with the dates they served and a quotation they are identified with.

The preamble area will lead along a walkway to a second series of pavers installed in a pentagon shape to represent the five branches of the military.

That area will lead to the ceremonial grounds which will overlook a reflecting pond flanked by trees including a Kwanaan cherry tree, the nation’s capitol tree, which was donated by the Township Planning Board.

Eric is a freshman in Mount Olive High School. He designed the flag vault, which will be donated by the Cochran Funeral Home in Hackettstown. Eric said he o hopes the first flags to be retired properly will be the 25 that he asked to be removed from the former town hall before it was demolished. He has cleaned the flags, held a flag folding ceremony with military organizations and Scout troop 312. He expects to retire them properly when the memorial is completed.

The vault will be available to groups that host proper flag burning ceremonies such as the American Legion and Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.

In another of his Eagle Scout endeavors Eric will have built a natural tree barrier between the sports section of the park and the memorial area. "The trees will give those who want to reflect in privacy from those who are at the park playing sports, he said in a statement.

A final part of his project will be the erection of a 30 foot tall flag pole which was donated last June by the students and faculty of the Mount Olive Middle School.

A one hundred year time capsule will be placed within the pre-amble area of the memorial. It will include a time scrapbook of photographs of those who have served in various wars. Photos or letters can be included for a $5 donation. Donors will be asked to include the family name, approximate date and war served with the photo.

For further information visit www.publiusmarketing.com/memorial or call Charlie Uhrmann at (908) 684-0057.