Eagle Scout project beautifies 9/11 memorial

Merokean Sean Heverin completed his Eagle Scout project after more than a year of planning. Heverin, 16, chose to clean up the 9/11 memorial on Hewlett Avenue in Merrick.

“I noticed the memorial wasn’t managed well, and I wanted people to be able to come and enjoy it,” he said.

His project was no easy task. “I have been planning the memorial for over a year but did all of the work last Saturday,” he said.

There were many contributors who helped. “I wrote letters to local nurseries and told them what my plan was for the memorial,” he said. Gardens by Rachel, in Merrick, was one of the many businesses that joined in the effort, donating $1,000 worth of flowers. Old Mill Nurseries, in Bellmore, gave a 60 percent discount, which helped Heverin to purchase the 30 stepping stones that now lead to the memorial. Hicks Nursery, in Westbury, also gave reduced pricing on all plants. “I used over a thousand dollars of donations to buy flowers,” Heverin said.

Various fundraisers were held for the project. On May 5, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in North Merrick donated $900 toward the effort. Heverin also held a pancake breakfast at the Applebee’s in Hicksville on May 11.

On Saturday, June 15, Heverin arrived at the memorial along with his troop members, family and friends. Around 30 to 40 people of all ages joined together to clean out weeds and install new plants to create a beautiful garden.

Heverin’s mother, Ann, said, “Everybody got involved, it was well worth the time.”

Barry Fox, president of the Merrick Park Homeowners Association, said, “I give all the credit to the kid. He did a beautiful, beautiful job.”