The Scouts (BSA) "Cache to Eagle" series is a National program to highlight past Eagle Scout projects. This is the eleventh cache for the Chester County Council (CCC), celebrating our council's 100th anniversary!
This cache takes you for a walk through the Medal of Honor Grove at the Freedoms Foundation, honoring the Medal of Honor recipients from each state and territory of the United States. Additional groves honor chaplains and immigrants who have received this honor. The Medal of Honor Grove has been the benefactor of many Eagle Scout projects over the years, from improvements to drainage, rehabilitation of state and territory groves, adding flagpoles, and more. Your tour will begin at the Gate, and take you to four states before leading you to the location of the geocache.
Gate. This project, by a scout from Troop 231, includes two gates to block motor traffic from entering the pedestrian walkways of the the Grove. The gates were constructed with wood from trees that were taken down in the Medal of Honor Grove.
North Dakota. This project, by a scout from Troop 105, replaced the sidewalk up to the North Dakota obelisk, repointed the obelisk, cleaned the bricks, added stone and sand, and relayed the bricks. Enjoy the North Dakota obelisk, unique in the Grove. It is constructed of stones from several counties of North Dakota, assembled in North Dakota and then shipped to the Grove to be displayed here.
New Jersey. This project, also by a scout from Troop 105, rehabilitated the New Jersey section of the Grove, constructed two new benches and organized the ground plaques where trees had been removed.
Maine. This project, by a scout from Troop 73, Diamond Rock district, relocated the ground plaques honoring Maine's Medal of Honor winners. He also set in a garden for visitors to Maine to enjoy.
As we strolled the Grove, we saw many other Eagle Scout projects, including navigation map kiosks and drainage improvements. Chester and Montgomery County Eagle Scouts are busy serving the Medal of Honor Grove!
To find this cache, collect details as you enjoy your walk through the Gate and to the three States. You will need to visit the obelisk in each of the states, and review the state seal and Medal of Honor winners from that state. Solve for N40 AB.CDE W75 FG.HIJ.
A = Number of names in the third column of the New Jersey Medal of Honor awardees
B = New Jersey's donors include B3D Army Band
C = Number of arrows with the bow on the North Dakota plaque
D = Number of Colins among the North Dakota winners
E = Gate project was completed in 201E
checksum latitude = 14
F = Number of figures on the Maine plaque
G = Total number of characters on the 4th line of Gate plaque
H = On the North Dakota obelisk, October H is mentioned
I = Number of women pictured on the New Jersey plaque
J = Number of Johns who weren't privates (PVT) among the Maine winners
checksum longitude = 18
This cache is placed with permission of Deb Woolson, Curator of the Freedoms Foundation and Volunteer Director of the Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove. The Grove is open from sunrise to sunset daily. The Grove is closed if winds exceed 15mph. No food or beverage is allowed in the Grove. Leashed dogs are welcomed; owners must clean up after their dogs. Dog clean-up stations are provided throughout the park. For more detailed rules, visit Rules for Grove Visitors.
Replace the cache exactly as found. If you have difficulty with the cache or container, please contact the CO (Cache Owner), CCCCacheToEagle.
This is one of 13 caches in the Chester County Council Cache to Eagle series, highlighting dozens of Eagle projects and Chester County Council BSA Headquarters. Collect the keywords from all 13 caches and visit Council Headquarters to obtain a patch commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chester County Council, BSA (while supplies last). Headquarters hours are M-Th 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; F 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Download the Chester County Cache to Eagle Passport here. Use this form to collect the 13 keywords from the 13 CCC Cache to Eagle caches. Take your completed form to the BSA Headquarters (location of this cache) to exchange it for the commemorative patch.
Congrats to SaRothe and her geo-chauffeur on their hard-won FTF!