A big project is happening in Akron, Ohio! A local Boy Scout is building a special spot for people to pray. This project is for his Eagle Scout award. It honors St. Luke, a very important saint.
Leo Dasher is the Boy Scout. He is 16 years old. Leo belongs to Troop 388. His amazing work is making a new shrine. It is at St. Sebastian Parish. This beautiful spot is almost done.
Leo started planning way back in July 2023. He worked hard on every detail. The actual building started on April 13, 2024. He hopes to finish everything by early May. This is truly a quick build!
The shrine honors St. Luke. St. Luke is known as the protector of many groups. He helps doctors and nurses. He also helps artists and students. Leo’s mom, Lisa Dasher, is a nurse. This made the project extra special for Leo. People can visit the shrine to pray. They can ask for good health and healing.
Building St. Luke’s Special Place
Leo’s project is a huge effort. It needs a lot of planning and teamwork. He leads other Scouts and helpers. This shows his strong leadership skills. That is a big part of becoming an Eagle Scout.
The shrine will be a quiet place. It sits near the south side of the church. It is close to the school entrance. This spot used to be just a grassy area. Now it will be a peaceful haven.
What does this new shrine include? It has a few main parts:
- A big statue of St. Luke.
- A nice walkway leading to the statue.
- A comfy bench for sitting and praying.
- A special sign that tells about the shrine.
- Pretty plants and flowers around it.
The statue is already in its spot. It is made of sturdy limestone. The statue itself is 3 feet tall. It sits on a base that is also 3 feet tall. So, St. Luke stands tall at 6 feet. The base is also limestone. It came from Indiana.
The concrete for the walkway was poured. Workers smoothed it out. The bench is also ready to use. It is made of strong granite. A special plaque will explain the shrine. This plaque will also be made of granite. It will tell visitors about St. Luke.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Leo didn’t build this alone. He got lots of help. His family worked alongside him. His dad, Paul Dasher, helped a lot. His mom, Lisa, also pitched in. Many other Scouts from Troop 388 joined too. About 10 to 12 Scouts volunteered their time. Parish volunteers also gave their help. Local businesses supported the project, too.
Leo had to raise money for the shrine. He wrote letters to get donations. The project costs about $10,000. Many people helped him reach this goal. St. Sebastian Parish gave him full support. This shows how much the community cares.
Leo felt inspired by other projects. He saw a rosary garden at St. Hilary Parish. Another Boy Scout built it. He also liked a statue garden at St. Nicholas. These ideas helped him think of his own special project.
The project shows what an Eagle Scout does. An Eagle Scout must plan a project. He must get it approved. Then, he must organize it. He needs to lead other people. And the project must help the community. Leo has done all these things and more.
The parish pastor is Father Stephen L. Kresak. He thinks Leo’s project is wonderful. It gives people a new place to pray. It also makes the church grounds more beautiful. It is a gift that will last a long time.
This new shrine means a lot to St. Sebastian Parish. It gives everyone a calm spot for prayer. It helps people remember St. Luke. It also celebrates Leo’s hard work. What a great way to serve his community!
| Project Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scout’s Name | Leo Dasher |
| Age | 16 years old |
| Boy Scout Troop | Troop 388 |
| Location | St. Sebastian Parish, Akron, Ohio |
| Project Cost | About $10,000 |
| Statue Height | 6 feet (3 ft statue + 3 ft base) |
Want to learn more about Boy Scouts of America? You can find information here. Find out what an Eagle Scout project means to the community on Wikipedia.
