ROCKLAND – Coughlin Memorial Cemetery on Rankin Street now proudly flies an American flag as the result of an Eagle Scout project organized by Dominic Todd, a member of Troop No. 200, a Scouting BSA Troop sponsored by the First Congregational Church in Camden.

Dominic is a junior at Camden Hills Regional High School and also a member of Order of the Arrow, the National Honors Society of Scouting.

Dominic collaborated with the Limerick Council of the Knights of Columbus at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Rockland to raise funds and install a 25-foot flagpole at the cemetery. John Wood, of Troop 200, served as Dominic’s project coach, and Bob Ohrt of the Knights of Columbus acted as liaison between the Knights, Dominic, and the parish community.

To fund the project, Dominic spoke at two of the Knights’ monthly Sunday breakfasts, wrote to local civic organizations seeking donations, and organized a silent auction in the parish hall featuring items contributed by area businesses. His efforts brought together community members and generated the necessary resources for the installation.

On Saturday, July 20, Dominic and two fellow scouts from Troop 200 dug a four-foot hole and poured a cement foundation for the flagpole, assisted by several Knights. Cement and other important materials were donated by Home Depot in Rockland. Then, on August 9, members of Troop 200 gathered at St. Bernard’s Church in Rockland to install the internal halyard for raising and lowering the flag before carrying the 25-foot pole one mile to Coughlin Cemetery. At the cemetery, Ferraiolo Construction provided the use of a boom truck to safely raise and place the flag. Dominic led the assembly of a solar light to illuminate the flag at night, guided the raising of the pole, and oversaw the placement of pavers at its base.

Eagle Scout projects are designed to challenge scouts to plan, organize, and lead a community service effort—skills essential to leadership development. Dominic put these principles into practice from start to finish, coordinating with multiple organizations, motivating volunteers, and managing both the fundraising and construction aspects of the project.

With the flagpole now standing tall, Dominic’s work moves into its final phase: preparing a detailed portfolio of the project and presenting it to an Eagle Board of Review. The board will determine if Dominic has successfully met the requirements to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout—the highest rank in Scouting.

The flagpole at Coughlin Memorial Cemetery now stands not only as a symbol of our nation’s shared values, but also as a lasting tribute to the men and women who served, and to the leadership, service, and dedication reflected in Scouting’s highest honor.

Thank you to the area businesses that contributed to the silent auction that raised money for the purchase of the pole and related supplies from Gorham Flag Center. These businesses include: Beth’s Farm Market, Camden House of Pizza, Cuzzy’s Restaurant, Camden Deli, Dorman’s Dairy Dream, Flagship Cinema Thomaston, Goose River Golf Club, Hearth & Harrow, Laugh Loud Smile Big, Maine Sport, Mosaic Restaurant, Planet Toys, Plant’s Unlimited, Park Street Grille, Samoset Golf Club, Schooner Appledore, Sea Dog Brewing Co., Camden Snowbowl, and Wooden Alchemy.