DUKE CENTER — Zarek Price was only 15 when his assistant scoutmaster, Greg Givan, asked him what he intended to do for his Eagle Scout project.
Givan suggested a flag memorial, and from there Zarek’s project was off and running. Planning and draft ideas were started with the help of Crandall Memorials of Olean, and Otto Township gave site approval.
Fast forward a few years later, and a beautiful flag memorial now stands in the corner of the old Duke Center School lot on Main Street. The site was completed Thursday, having been started in July.
It was very fitting for the flag memorial to have its reveal on Veterans Day, which was Saturday. Pastor Richard Price welcomed those in attendance and gave many thanks to all the support from the Duke Center community and all surrounding communities to make the flag memorial project possible. Price then led the group in prayer.
State Rep. Martin Causer spoke about his interactions with Zarek on the planning of the memorial. Causer said he was asked to provide a flag for the memorial and he said he would be glad to provide that, and he also made sure that the flag was flown over the State Capitol in Harrisburg on the day ground was broken on the project.
Causer said he was honored to have a small part in the ceremony. He concluded by congratulating Zarek on his accomplishment and thanked him for a memorial that will be in place for many generations to come.
Zarek took the podium and, after thanking Causer for his attendance and providing a flag, the color guard proceed to advance the colors to the flagpole. As the flag was raised, all stood at attention and recited The Pledge of Allegiance.
Zarek explained that his project would not have been possible without the support of the Duke Center community and many surrounding communities and businesses. Donations for the project totaled $12,098; Zarek noted that it took 273 hours to complete the memorial project.
The memorial, which will be maintained by Boy Scout Troop 413, is designed to hold 1,000 memorial bricks, which can still be purchased. Before cutting the ribbon to welcome all into the memorial, Zarek gave special a thanks to Dale Magee, Corey Wilcox, Carl English, Greg English, Rob Good, Randy Renninger, Taylor and Armstrong, Bill Gleason, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Portville Sand And Gravel, Crandall Memorials, Dan Austin, Otto Fire Department and Auxiliary, Eldred VFW, Eldred American Legion, Bradt Family, Deloris Snow, Close’s Lumber, Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, Old Home Days, Shirley and James Clark, Chris Ruding, JD Rowe, Miller family, Brandi King, Inferno Tattoo, the Veilleux family and several family members.
