Eagle Project at Hillside Cemetery Shows Us the Path

Ken Piasecki recently completed his Eagle Scout project at Hillside Cemetery. Hillside Cemetery is one of 5 historic pioneer cemeteries Palatine Township owns and maintains.  Many of Palatine’s founding Fathers are buried at this historic site.

Eagle Scout Piasecki’s project called for a new path to be laid from the entrance drive straight to the Cemeteries’ flagpole.  Also, the new path would then encircle the flagpole.  Lastly, overgrown shrubs were removed from around the flagpole and new, low maintenance bushes were planted.  Eagle Scout Piasecki also donated some annual flowers that were planted around the cemetery entrance sign.

“This was an ambitious project,” stated Chairman Terry Kelly. “The end result is fantastic.  Now when the American legion marches in on Memorial Day to raise the flag, there will be a very fitting area for the honor guard to present the colors.”

The path is approximately 4 feet wide and is well over 50 feet long.  The path was dug down some 4 inches and crushed red granite was used.  On a sunny day the path looks stunning.  

The project took several weekends to complete.  Members of Ken’s Troop 209 helped complete the project.  Eagle scout Piasecki also took special care to mark off the areas that had fragile headstones and to ensure that proper care was given to maintain them.

Connie Rawa of the Palatine Historical Society said, “We think the path looks fantastic.  Ken has done a great service for our community.”  Historical Society President Joe Petykowski also commented that this path is a much needed addition to historic Hillside Cemetery.   

Information provided by Terry Kelly, Township Cemetery Chairman.