Submitted photo Boy Scout Tyler Roman stands next to his Eagle Scout project, a tribute to first responders erected at the New Middletown Municipal Building, 10711 Main St.

NEW MIDDLETOWN — Working on a merit badge, a local Scout felt compelled to honor first responders.

This summer, Tyler Roman, 17, a member of Poland Boy Scout Troop 44 and son of Rick and Terri Roman, finished the yearlong Eagle Scout project that met his goal. The Springfield High School senior erected an etched stone to honor New Middletown and New Springfield first responders.

Roman said the project came about as he was going for his citizenship badge. Last August, he attended a New Middletown Village Council meeting and interviewed Mayor Harry Kale.

“He mentioned the police officers pulling over a car about a mile from my house that had a loaded automatic weapon inside with armor-piercing bullets,” Roman said. “After the meeting I thought about that and talked it over with my parents and decided I wanted to do something to thank the first responders for risking their lives to make our community safe. I then came up with the idea for this memorial.”

Roman got in touch with the mayor and told him about the idea. His next step was to visit O.T Beight and Sons where he picked out the stone for the memorial. He then came up with the words: “In recognition of the past, present, and future first responders of New Middletown and New Springfield, May God bless them.”

Those words and the figure of a firefighter and a police officer were added and the image was presented to Roman, who was happy with it.

“I then took the project idea to the Scout council and got it approved in November 2019,” Roman said. “We took our idea to a New Middletown council meeting, and presented it to the mayor and city council, where they gave the approval to start it.”

Everyone agreed it should go in front of the New Middletown Municipal Building, 10711 Main St. At that location, all the first responders would be able to see it as they travel to and from work.

“They will be reminded that people appreciate their work,” Roman said.

Since the project required digging a hole and making a concrete base for the stone, the project had to wait for spring. Once the weather permitted, the stone was brought in and placed, and the landscaping was completed just a few weeks ago.

Altogether it took a year. Roman said he appreciated the help from O.T Beight and Sons monuments, Tabor’s Landscaping and the Springfield Optimist Club for their donations.

The overall cost of the project was $1,500. Roman said he still needs roughly $400 to complete the funding.

“The total cost of my project is still not fully covered, and I’m still seeking donations to help me with that,” he said. He has a GoFundMe page set up that can be found at: gf.me/u/ykfqxu or by searching Tyler Roman Eagle Scout Project on Gofundme.com.

Roman said if he gets donations above what is needed, the excess money would be split between the New Middletown police and fire departments.

Roman said he has received a lot of comments on the monument. New Middletown police Chief Jim Cravens said, “It is outstanding, especially in these times. It is great community support that will last a very long time.”

Roman’s Eagle Award Court of Honor has not yet been scheduled.

jtwhitehouse@tribtoday.com