07/07/2026
At just 14 years old, Jaxon Lamothe is making a lasting impact by honoring the veterans buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery. For his Eagle Scout project, Jaxon is documenting our veterans' graves for inclusion in the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM). VLM is a national online database that recognizes those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces with dedicated memorial pages.
With the support of his family, fellow Scouts from Troop 164 and other local troops, and military-affiliated volunteers, Jaxon has already identified over 800 veterans buried in the cemetery. Using an app on their phones with a camera that records GPS coordinates, his team photographs each headstone and documents details such as the veteran's name, birth/death dates, military rank, branch of service, campaigns, and gravesite location, along with any other significant information they can obtain. This information is submitted to the VLM to preserve these veterans’ legacies.
When the project is complete, Jaxon will become just the third person in the world to complete a Veterans Legacy Memorial mapping project.
For Jaxon, whose family has strong military ties, the project is especially meaningful. "I feel that I'm making a difference by spreading awareness about the VLM and helping veterans be remembered for their service," he says.
Thank you, Jaxon, for your dedication to preserving history and ensuring our veterans are never forgotten.
