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Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
RM Eagle Scout project honors father’s memory
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Photo by Sheri Barile
Deacon Dennis Merino of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church addresses a gathering at the church’s cemetery in Rancho Murieta as he prepares to bless a new stone courtyard memorial installed as an Eagle Scout project by Gregory Prouty (left) and Ryan Prouty in honor of their father who died two years ago.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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A long labor of love came to fruition May 23 at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery when a stone courtyard memorial was dedicated to the memory of Captain Andrew Prouty, a Rancho Murieta resident and firefighter with the Stockton Fire Department who passed away in January 2008. The memorial was an Eagle Scout project designed and carried out by Prouty’s sons Gregory, 16, and Ryan, 14.
A gathering of approximately 20 people were on hand to witness Deacon Dennis Merino of SVDP bless the courtyard memorial, as the Prouty brothers participated in the ceremony.
“When I think of all these boys have accomplished here, it gives me chills,” Merino said. “I can’t say enough about how proud I am of them, and I’m sure their mom and dad feel the same.”
A picture board was on display, illustrating the many phases of the construction project. Coffee and pastries were also served, courtesy of Sweet Monique’s Pastry Couture of Sacramento.
The memorial is fashioned of peacock and silver quartzite slate in the shape of a cross, embedded in a circular courtyard. The base of the cross serves as an entryway, leading to four stone benches. A memorial plaque is currently being designed and will be laid in the center of the courtyard at a later date.
When the inspiration for the memorial project first struck Theresa Prouty, the boys’ mother, the family had no idea what they were getting into. The sheer scope of it, both logistically and financially, was daunting. It took six months to complete and a total of 130 hours.
Captain Greg Pryor of Sacramento Metro Fire Department serves as the Rio Del Oro Boy Scout District Advancement Chair and closely supervised the project. He said that, If not for remarkable generosity on the part of area businesses, the labor and materials would have topped $25,000.
Gregory Prouty expressed gratitude to Silverado Building Materials for donating the benches and discounting other materials and to Elk Grove Masonry for labor. “They helped us get the total cost down to $3,000,” he said. “That was really generous in this economy.”
Prouty also said that, thanks to three RM service clubs (Kiwanis, Rotary and Optimist), as well as the generosity of the community, more than half of that cost has been covered.
Theresa Prouty said the financial challenges account for only a fraction of the hurdles in their path. “This was a really big project,” she said. “The boys had no idea how much it entailed going into it – the planning and organization that would be required. But there were just too many good reasons to do it.”
Theresa Prouty explained that the idea came about after the family completed grief counseling at Methodist Hospital in Elk Grove. She said the hospital had a courtyard reflectionary where benches were provided in a serene setting for people to sit and remember loved ones. “It was really beautiful,” she said. “I kept the idea in the back of my head as an Eagle project the boys could do because the cemetery had no place to relax and still be close to their dad.”
The idea to construct the memorial courtyard in the cemetery as an Eagle Scout project was fitting, as the Prouty patriarch is interred there. In addition, the boys’ dad was an Eagle Scout himself and had always encouraged his sons to achieve that ultimate rank.
Other members of Troop 633 and the youngest Prouty, Aidan, rolled up their sleeves and helped with the project, which began with staking and digging in October and November. This phase, along with pouring concrete and laying stone, was Gregory Prouty’s responsibility. The landscaping came this spring, under the leadership of Ryan Prouty, who said his major challenge was the lack of water in the cemetery. “There’s no irrigation system out there, so I knew I’d have to choose the best looking, drought-resistant plants,” he said. “And I’ll have to go out there with big jugs of water every couple of weeks in the dry months for two years until they’re independent.”
Water was also a challenge during the cement and mortar phases, but neighbors across the fairway from the cemetery were kind enough to help out, according to Theresa Prouty. “It took five hoses to get across the green,” she said. “We were very grateful.”
The Proutys were also grateful to Phil Niederberger, director of cemeteries for the Sacramento diocese, who cleared the way for the project. Niederberger expressed no regrets for giving the green light. “They exceeded all expectations,” he said. “The memorial courtyard is a wonderful addition to the cemetery.”
The boy’s mother said it has been a wonderful addition for the whole family. “So many good things came out of this,” she said. “I can honestly say it’s been very meaningful to our family. It has pulled us closer together.”
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Online publication, Copyright 2005, The River Valley Times.
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