Howell Eagle Scout project gives new life to township's war memorials

HOWELL – Imagine juggling school, work, sports and extracurricular activities, along with studying for AP exams, taking the SAT and figuring out what you want to do with your life.

Now, imagine doing all that and leading a large community service project at the same time.

Well, that's exactly what Boy Scout and Howell resident Brendan Mueller has spent over a year doing, and it has finally paid off. On Memorial Day, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held to celebrate his work to save local war memorials, giving them new life and a new home.

For his Eagle Scout project, Mueller, from St. Veronica’s Troop 300, moved three war monuments from the abandoned town hall in Howell to Soldier Memorial Park.

“It’s a really big sense of accomplishment because I’ve been working on this for over a year now, so I feel like this is just a culmination of all my Boy Scout [experience],” Mueller said with a smile. Watch the video above to see Howell resident Nicholas Marinelli, who became the first member of Troop 926 -- created for Boy Scouts with special needs -- to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

He first proposed the project to Town Council in February 2020, and was able to complete the work just in time for his graduation from Howell High School next month.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for veterans so when it came time for my Eagle Scout project, I wanted to do something to honor veterans,” explained Mueller.

Mueller saw the Vietnam War, Korean War and World War I and World War II monuments in front of the abandoned and soon-to-be demolished town hall building in Howell, and he knew he couldn’t just watch them crumble to dust.

So, Mueller acted fast and decided to pursue saving the monuments and moving them to a better, more prominent location.

To raise money for his project, Mueller began selling engraved pavers that would eventually be placed at the new memorial site. With paver and labor donations from Landstyles Inc. and additional fundraising at local farmers’ markets, Mueller gradually raised enough money to fund the project, but it didn’t come easily.

“During the fundraising, there were times where I would get one paver order a week … so I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get the money,” Mueller said.

After nine long months, Mueller managed to raise the $8,500 needed to transport the monuments and build a new memorial site for them, and, surprisingly, Mueller found the process of transporting a 10,000-pound monument and two 6,000-pound ones to be easier than the fundraising.

Mueller, Scouts from his troop and the Jersey Monument Co.  worked together to transport the monuments and construct their new home.

Related: One of the country's first female Eagle Scouts earns 50 merit badges in 50 states

Also: Before coronavirus, he chose a veterans home for his Eagle Scout project. Now he plays taps outside.

A concrete base supports the structures and the pavers were placed around it. Then, a Jersey Monument truck transported the monuments to Soldier Memorial Park, where a crane then positioned them around the newly built pavement.

“Not only did he get it done, but there were a lot of people who thought it couldn’t be done, and he still got it down anyway, which is totally awesome,” said Mueller’s father Erik Mueller.

Now, a wheelchair accessible path leads up to the three monuments, as they proudly stand at Soldier Memorial Park where a small garden of flowers also has been planted.

“I want to inspire the younger Scouts in my troop to do bigger things for the community and also just to try to make the community better,” Mueller said.

After graduation from Howell High School, Mueller soon will be heading to High Point University in North Carolina, where he plans to major in biology with a minor in forensic science.

Even though his Eagle Scout Service Project is complete, he hopes to continue taking part in community service projects in college bringing the lessons he has learned with him.

“[Boy Scout’s] taught me morals like the Scout Law and the Scout Oath of trustworthiness, respect and loyalty. I try to live by that every day of my life,” Mueller said.

Intern Kaitlin Balasaygun is a rising senior at Ramapo College and expects to earn degrees in journalism and photography in 2023. She is captain of the school's NCAA Division III swim team. Reach her at kbalasaygun@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Howell Eagle Scout war memorial project to be celebrated Memorial Day