As a longtime member of Scouting, I knew where I was going to bring you when I received a chance to host a Virtual Cache. The Walker Memorial Garden is at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in North Brookfield.
This is a special place that Scouts of the Heart of New England Council gather each year around Memorial Day to honor the memory of Ronald E. Walker and to recognize all recently departed members of our Scouting community. Please be respectful to leave this place as you found it.
To claim your find:
- Post a picture of yourself, your caching group, or your GPS in front of the Scout Statue.
When logging your find please let us know if Scouting has had a special place in your life or in the life of someone you know.
The Walker Memorial History
The Ronald E. Walker Memorial and Walker Memorial Gardens are a dedication by Norman Walker to honor his son. As a boy, Ron was an active member of Troop 128, chartered to St. Joseph’s Church in North Brookfield. Until the time of his passing, he had served as an Assistant Scoutmaster of the Troop.
Because both father and son shared a love for Scouting, and because Scouting had brought them so close to one another, the idea for a “Living Memorial to Scouting” was born. With Mr. Walker providing the design and supervision, construction started in late 1969. The Gardens were dedicated on Memorial Day, May 25, 1970. The Heart of New England Council BSA assembles here each year to honor departed members of the Scouting community.
The life-sized statue of the Scout was carved in Vermont and represents all Scouts - past, present, and future. Notice the Scout Oath inscribed on the back. The Scout faces a Carillon Tower in memory of Ronald E. Walker. The tower is electronically controlled, and music starts to play whenever someone enters the area. (This is currently being repaired and may not be working)
Through the generosity of Mr. Walker, perpetual maintenance of the Memorial Garden is assured.
Thank you for visiting this Virtual Cache!
Please leave the following text at the bottom of the page, so cache finders understand the Virtual Rewards 3.0 project.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.