A Gift In Honor Of The Sacrifice

By Hamil R. Harris and Raoul Dennis

Patriotism and community pride came together on the grounds of the Peace Cross in Bladensburg on Memorial Day when state and local leaders joined Boy Scout Troop 251 to dedicate a replica of a ship’s anchor from Pearl Harbor.

Nearly 200 people took part in the Memorial Day event which was all part of a Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Project organized by Scout Ethan Mendoza, 17, of Troop 251.

“I have been coming to these memorials in this park for my life and I always thought that the Pearl Harbor Memorial, which was much smaller than the other memorials, deserved more than it had,” said Mendoza in an interview. “Something on par with the other memorials.”

Cris and Penny Mendoza began the journey toward gifting the anchor in memory of those fallen at Pearl Harbor in 1941 some four years ago, when they visited the sacred harbor after their flight was delayed and they got to spend 24 hours in Hawaii.

“I am amazed at what it looked like and to see this from beginning to end,” said Penny Mendoza who added that her son was only 13 when he came up with the idea for the project. “This was a project from beginning to end and I love what scouting has done for him.”

Cris Mendoza said his life has come full circle having served in the military himself, on the Bladensburg Town Council, and as Troop 251 Scoutmaster. 

On Monday, veteran groups from nearby communities also joined the program at Bladensburg Memorial Park.

Ethan's Eagle Scout project transcended the typical community service endeavor. With a deep reverence for history and a commitment to civic duty, he orchestrated the planning, fundraising, and construction of a memorial centered around a U.S. Navy ship anchor.

This symbol of steadfastness now resides at 4500 Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, MD, within a park renowned for its WWI Peace Cross and other memorials commemorating Vietnam, Korea, WWII, and 9/11.

“I wanted to build something lasting, something that would make people stop and remember,” said Ethan whose initiative ensures that the 2,403 Americans who perished on December 7, 1941—will always be a day, that then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared “will live in infamy.”

Ethan Mendoza says he was uncertain about plans at first. “I know I wanted to do something to help this community with this project,” Ethan Mendoza said.

It began when the senior Mendoza took his son to Bladensburg Memorial Park as a small child.  Ethan wondered even then why there wasn’t more to honor what happened at Pearl. Ironically, while on a family trip to the Philippines in 2013, a missed flight back to Maryland and found the family on an unexpected tour of the Hawaiian Islands.

 After visiting the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, 13-year-old Mendoza was further inspired to do something significant to remember the fallen sailors and airmen.

When the young scout decided to make a dedication part of his Eagle Scout project, the dream was underway. According to Cris, Prince George’s Parks came through with some of the funding to make it possible.

Victor Ramirez, “This shows that with hard work and dedication what can be accomplished. I can't wait to see what he plans to do in the future.”

Renee Green, who serves as Patriotic Coordinator, for Bladensburg, said that seeing Pearl Harbor Memorial is a proud moment.

Trina Brown, a member of the Bladensburg Town Council from Ward 1, said, “With the Eagle Scouts putting in the work for the last two years, we now have a proper memorial for those who died in Pearl Harbor. When you see the young people who participated, it’s heartwarming.”

Members Troop 251 sat down front while many veteran groups took photos and recognized the Boy Scouts who raised the money to purchase the anchor from a surplus vendor in China.

Tyrone Collington Sr. Chief of Bladensburg Police Department, said “Being in the military myself having served in Iraqi freedom, this means a lot to me.”