ELDRED, NY — Eagle Scout candidate Kain Quimby of Glen Spey caught the vision of Wreaths Across America (WAA).

He first participated at West Point in 2017, while he was a Cub Scout. When it was time to choose an Eagle Scout project, he decided he wanted to share his experience of honoring veterans.

Kain contacted the local American Legion Post 1363 several months ago and has worked with Glenn Borstelmann, vice-commander, to obtain information on veterans’ graves in the 10 local cemeteries in Highland and Lumberland. 

Town clerks Sue Hoffman and Laurie Terry assisted in getting the towns’ permission and completing the administrative details. 

Kain also contacted libraries, post offices, banks, local businesses, American Legion and VFW posts. He used Facebook to help spread word and solicit donations. Organizations, businesses and private citizens came through, providing wreaths for 404 veterans’ graves. 

Other scouts in Troop 102, families of the veterans being honored and members of Legion Post 1363 were joined by community members to place the wreaths on December 16. A brief, poignant ceremony at Heroes Park followed.  

Headstones in the Barryville Montoza Cemetery date back to 1861. Several Confederate soldiers were killed on July 15, 1864, when a train carrying 833 prisoners of war to the federal prison in Elmira collided with a coal train in Shohola. Nineteen guards and 51 soldiers were killed in the accident. Some were buried along the tracks, and others were laid to rest in the Barryville Congregational Church cemetery. 

Kain will earn his Eagle rank by December 2024. He has six more Eagle-required merit badges to complete. He started his Eagle project early because the rank needs to be attained by age 18. 

Kain became a Cub Scout in 2015 and has been a Boy Scout since 2019. A hardy soul, his favorite experiences are campouts, winter camping at Camp Keowa to participate in an ice fishing competition and the D&H Canal hike in February.