There’s a new landmark on Austin Peay State University’s campus. But the addition didn’t come from university leaders or even a student. It came from a high schooler, working on his Eagle Scout project.
Take a quick glimpse around Austin Peay, and you’ll see all the names and figures they hold dear adorning their campus buildings and quad. But Joseph Brunner couldn’t help but notice someone, or something was missing. “Austin Peay, up until now, has never had a Gold Star memorial to honor anyone affiliated with Austin Peay and their families,” said Brunner. “I was really surprised there was nothing like this before.”
Gold Star families are immediate relatives of military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s the kind of sacrifice Brunner wanted to honor through his Eagle Scout project. He got the idea from retired Maj. Gen. Walt Lord, who serves APSU as a military adviser.
To pull it off, Brunner needed money. “We had to raise $5,400,” said the rising high school senior.