Eagle Scout funds VFW Post 414 monument by selling pavers

Passersby have surely noticed some changes at the VFW Post 414 this past year. What they may not have known is that the renovations began thanks to one former post commander’s grandson.

For his Eagle Scout project, East Moriches’ Louis Mattiolo fundraised for a monument his grandfather, past VFW Post commander Louis Baer, and other veterans in the community envisioned at their local VFW. They wished to recognize the service of all veterans who served the United States throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Prior to their initiative, the Center Moriches community only boasted a monument to those who served in World War I and II at the high school, and one recognizing service in the Korean and Vietnam wars at the VFW. The monument for the latter two wars was erected in 1981, several years after a new generation of veterans arrived home to a nation divided over America’s involvement in Vietnam and were denied a warm “welcome home.”

Four decades later, younger generations of veterans served and arrived home, and the VFW members—primarily of the Korea and Vietnam eras—aimed to recognize them. On Veterans Day, leaders of the post explained the significance of their new second monument dedicated to all those who served, and a series of slates that highlight every conflict in which the United States Military was involved.

“As time passed, more veterans came, more actions were seen by our government, and our United States was involved in many different conflicts,” Baer explained. “Once again, people were saying, ‘There is no acknowledgment for us.’”

“In front of the monument lists all of the conflicts the United States has been in since World War I,” he continued. “So, the people come down, they can go up, there’s a recognition of their service, there’s the stones in recognition of their loved ones who served.”

To fund the new monument and the slates recognizing military conflicts, Mattiolo developed a plan that would also improve the state of the VFW’s entryway.

“I used to go to the VFW with my grandfather a lot, and I always noticed the walkway was a little off,” Mattiolo said. “We figured we would redo the runway and make a nice monument on the other side.”

The now 18-year-old, then entering his senior year at Westhampton Beach High School, began selling walkway pavers to members of the community during the summer of 2021. Purchasers personalized their bricks with engraved names and details of loved ones who served in the military.

As word of the project spread through the community, many people stepped up to support Baer and Mattiolo’s vision. Eugene Smith, family friend, galvanized volunteers to install the pavers alongside Mattiolo, and many local businesses lent their services for repairs and beautification.

“In pulling all this together, we had some outside members of the community,” Baer said. “Irrigation Solutions came and fixed up our entire sprinkler system. John Luthard [of Henry Leuthardt Nurseries] did all of the landscaping for us, planted trees and bushes. Craftsman Fence did all the fencing for us.

“And all of this they did free of charge as their commitment to the veterans,” he continued. “It was just such a wonderful thing, and now I think we have a front of our building that we can really be proud of.”

For Baer, the community’s support for the project represents hope for younger generations of veterans. He and his fellow servicemembers in Vietnam did not receive the homecoming or support all veterans deserve. They strive to prevent this history from repeating itself.

“I think there’s a lot more support for the military, for the people that are serving right now,” he said. “Right now, it’s our era [veterans], from Vietnam, that are welcoming these people home. And we know what we went through, so that’s why I think they’re getting a much better reception, a ‘come on in.’”

After two batches of brick orders, Mattiolo’s completed “walkway of heroes” now individually recognizes the service of 250 veterans, and there are still plenty of blank bricks, should anyone else care to recognize a veteran in their life. Looking back, he said he is thankful to all those who made the walkway and the monument possible.

“Honestly, I’m just glad it was able to make an impact on the community and leave a little mark in the town,” Mattiolo said. “I’m hoping that it will inspire other people to do Eagle Scout projects like that, where it’s less about achieving a rank and more about leaving a mark.”