Scout project salutes Indians, injured vets

Teen builds 2 pavilions at NLR park

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --05/20/14--  Samantha Nelson smoothes the mulch around a plant as Zach Baxla ( right,center) and Freddie Mable use shovels to dig a hole for a plant near the Wounded Warriors Veteran Pavilion along the Arkansas River Trail in Burns Park Thursday. Baxla came up with the plans for two small pavilions for his Eagle Scout service project. Home Depot 's Team Depot donated supplies and workers to do landscaping for the project.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --05/20/14-- Samantha Nelson smoothes the mulch around a plant as Zach Baxla ( right,center) and Freddie Mable use shovels to dig a hole for a plant near the Wounded Warriors Veteran Pavilion along the Arkansas River Trail in Burns Park Thursday. Baxla came up with the plans for two small pavilions for his Eagle Scout service project. Home Depot 's Team Depot donated supplies and workers to do landscaping for the project.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Enthralled by tales about veterans' bravery in wars and the suffering of American Indians along the Trail of Tears, 15-year-old Zachary Baxla envisioned his Eagle Scout service project as a chance to honor those two groups.

Baxla's vision will become reality when the Wounded Warriors of Arkansas Pavilion and the Native Americans of Arkansas and Historic Trail of Tears Pavilion in North Little Rock's Burns Park are formally dedicated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday as part of an Arkansas Trails Day observance.

The two pavilions, built next to the River Trail along the Arkansas River, are on either side of a fishing pier just south of Burns Park's soccer fields. Both pavilions were built in stages during the past six weeks, with landscaping completed last week.

Veterans, including some who were severely wounded during their military service, were among volunteers who worked with Baxla during the project or came out to show support. The Arkansas Freedom Fund, which supports activities that benefit the state's veterans, served as a contact point and also donated two picnic tables for each pavilion.

"It's been a wonderful journey for him, working alongside wounded warriors," said Jennifer Askea of Little Rock, Baxla's mother. "A lot of them have been moved with emotion while interacting with him. One wounded warrior even gave his second Purple Heart to Zach because he was so touched with Zach's efforts.

"Working side by side with him, I think it meant a lot to them and to my son, too," she said.

Baxla, a member of Boy Scout Troop 99 in Little Rock, began formulating the plan for his Eagle Scout project more than two years ago, he said last week. In the past year, he sought contributions of cement, metal roofing, lumber, landscaping materials, as well as volunteer labor and expertise from Central Arkansas companies to construct well-built, lasting and respectful structures. All labor and materials were donated, Askea said.

"I created a packet so they [companies] could see what they would be contributing to for the project," Baxla said.

Baxla's plans for the two pavilions earned approval from the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department and the city's Parks Commission. Burns Park is the site of several Eagle Scout projects, said Parks Director Bob Rhoads, but this one was unique.

"This is probably the project of the biggest magnitude that one individual has done," Rhoads said.

With help from his uncle, Nathan Fleming, Baxla said he drew up design plans and then sought mentoring help from Baldwin and Shell Construction Company in Little Rock. The plans made their way to Dennis Miller, the company's general superintendent for construction services.

"I looked it all over and I was very impressed with the work he had already put into the project in the planning of it," said Miller, who became Baxla's mentor, with Baldwin and Shell as the project's official sponsor. "He said 'This is what I want to do.' He wanted to dedicate it to Arkansas Native Americans and Arkansas Wounded Warriors.

"When Zach got around to mentioning the wounded warriors part, that touched a soft note with me," he added. "This was not just about becoming an Eagle Scout, but this young man is wanting to give something to the community and wanting to give something to those two groups. It sounded pretty unselfish to me."

Baxla's idea for his Eagle Scout project stemmed from relatives' and friends' military service and family ties with American Indians, Askea said. His grandfathers served in World War II, she said, and a family friend is Tech Sgt. Scott McClure of the Air Force Special Forces.

"[McClure] has been a big influence on me," Baxla said. "I highly respect those in the military for what they have done for us."

When participating in American Indian heritage events, Baxla said he heard stories from a descendant of a Trail of Tears survivor that had a lasting effect.

"She would tell me stories of how it was on the Trail of Tears," he said. "I felt like those stories were fascinating, and I wanted to show that they aren't forgotten. You don't see too many things that honor Native Americans out here."

As a company sponsor, Baldwin and Shell provided not only its expertise and connections with suppliers and contractors, but also company tools, equipment and volunteer labor, Miller said.

"He's giving a pretty good, and sizable, gift to our parks and to the community that will be used by the people of Little Rock and North Little Rock for a long, long time," Miller said. "That's why I was out there, as well, swinging a hammer."

And Baxla participated in every phase of the construction of his Eagle Scout project, Miller said, putting in long hours alongside others who were helping him and guiding his work.

"During every part of it, he had a hands-on participation," Miller said of Baxla. "He put in some long, hard days. He has his fingerprints on every part of the job."

Metro on 05/26/2014