PERRYSBURG, Ohio —
Many traditional Memorial Day celebrations are cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
The day serves to remember those who died in service to our country.
But one Perrysburg teen is using his Eagle Scout project to make sure those brave men and women are never forgotten.
"I just want to be able to honor those who served and gave their lives for our country,” said junior Jack Gentry, a junior at Perrysburg High School.
"I went to go talk to the principal, Dr. Short and he gave me the idea of building a military wall of honor to honor Perrysburg grads who have served and are serving in our military,” he said.
Gentry is basing the idea off a wall created just last year at Anthony Wayne High School. His respect for serving hits close to home.
"A lot of people on mom's side have served. My uncle is actually a doctor in the navy and he's out doing stuff helping with COVID-19 right now. My dad's dad served, so I have a lot of roots in the military,” he explained.
Gentry is working now with the alumni association to gather names of Perrysburg graduates who have served. He is also asking for the public's help finding those names and raising money for the project.
"Our goal is at least $5,000. We've raised about $2,000 so far, so we got a nice start in but we'd like to make it $5,000 so we can keep adding names as they come up throughout the years."
Gentry said he is thankful to the boy scouts for all he's learned. Being able to take on a project like this has given him leadership skills he said all of the brave service members had.
"I really hope that they feel that they've been properly honored here. They just have built so much respect here in the community for giving what they have. I just really want to honor them properly.”
He hopes to have the project completed by Veterans Day.
If you'd like to submit a name to be remembered or help out with a donation, click here.