Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010 • Eagle Scout project honors local veteran

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Fred Metz, a vibrant and tireless local resident, community leader and World War II veteran who died in March 2009 at the age of 84, will long be remembered — thanks to an Eagle Scout project recently completed at the Milford Cemetery.

Many local residents can never forget how Metz played his bugle at events all around the county for many years.

From 1977 until his death, he lived in the stone castle on Riverside Drive built by his father in 1937.

Metz’s memory was honored with the dedication of a flagpole and a memorial bench at the Milford Cemetery Sunday, Sept. 19.

Dozens of county residents including Lassen County District 3 Supervisor Lloyd Keefer, former Lassen County Auditor Irene Doyle, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Milford Community Association, the Lassen County Patriot Guard Riders, Boy Scouts, friends and well-wishers attended or took part in the ceremony. Metz is buried in the cemetery.

The memorial bench and flagpole are part of an Eagle Scout project by Bill Dandois, 15, a Lassen High School student from Janesville.

Dandois said the memorial was both a community service and a leadership project.

“It was really fun,” Dandois said. “I actually built the bench myself.”

Dandois said Pete Jansen, a mechanic for Caltrans, helped weld and fabricate the metal frame for the bench and helped cut the wood.

“He has his own shop, and he was willing to help,” Dandois said.

Tum A Lum Lumber in Susanville provided the wood for the bench at half-price, Dandois said, and the VFW helped purchase the materials. Jack Beterbide donated the metal for the frame and Billington Ace Hardware donated the bolts, cement and finishing materials.

As the Lassen County Patriot Guard Riders served as a color guard, Keefer welcomed those in attendance on the windy morning, and said at least there was no rain or snow.

The supervisor said Dandois approached him in February or March with the idea for an Eagle Scout project at the cemetery that is the final resting place for many members of Lassen County’s pioneer families including the Doyles and the Wemples.

Keefer said the young scout worked with the Milford Community Association and the Lassen County Public Works Department on the project and that Larry Millar, the county’s public works director, played a key role.

Keefer said he used some of his discretionary funds to help pay for the lighted, telescoping flagpole that stands just behind the bench.

According to Keefer, the bench and the flagpole are “a great addition to the cemetery.”

Dandois said he was proud to honor the bugler and World War II veteran with his project, especially when he noticed the cemetery lacked “a centerpiece.”

New cemetery sign
Keefer also was proud to announce a second project — a new arch sign for the Milford Cemetery created by Matt Wemple.

The idea of the arch sign had been kicking around for many years, Keefer said, and once the decision to build it was finally made, the plans were turned over to Wemple.

Wemple took the plans and improved on the original design, Keefer said.

The students at LHS’ metal shop cut out of the letters with their new plasma cam.