Published on September 16, 2020
A memorial garden at a Phelps Health clinic in Rolla has a new look thanks to a local Boy Scout’s efforts.
This past summer, Wilhelm “Wil” Baur, a 15-year-old Scout with Troop 81 of Rolla, completed a restoration of the memorial garden located at the Phelps Health Bond Building in Rolla.
Wil Baur, the son of Stuart and Martina Baur, decided to spruce up the garden as a project to help him achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He learned about the garden from his pastor, Richard Krenning, who also serves as executive director of primary care at Phelps Health.
Wil decided to pursue the garden as his Eagle Scout project and began working on the garden in June of 2019, with the help of his friends and other Scouts.
The work completed at the garden over the last year included expanding a small stone wall, planting a dogwood tree, moving and adding benches, adding solar lights and placing a stepping stone pathway through the garden.
“While we were digging and doing some mulching, we found some old plaques buried,” Wil said. The plaques have since been cleaned and are now back on display in the garden.
Phelps Health sponsored this Eagle Scout project, and Thrivent, a not-for-profit financial services organization, provided an action grant for the work.
Scout leaders, including Wil’s father Stuart and Scoutmaster Randy Dodd of Troop 81, along with Phelps Health staff, met on September 9 at the memorial garden to celebrate Wil’s achievement. Wil was presented with a plaque honoring his work.
“We are appreciative of Wil’s efforts, which exemplify community service and civic stewardship,” Krenning said. “His work on the garden will help ensure many people get to enjoy the space for years to come.”