Dylan's Eagle Scout Project to Honor Chick Galella

Hello! My name is Dylan Smith and I am a BSA Life Scout with Troop 22, Tarrytown. I have been in the scouting program since I was in first grade and I am now working on my Eagle Scout rank. An Eagle Scout Service Project is a large-scale project that a scout does to benefit the community.

I am going into eighth grade and I love history. Around 7 years ago, I met a Pearl Harbor survivor who lived in my town. His name was Armando "Chick" Galella. Chick was an amazing person and was someone who just loved life. He especially loved talking to the kids in our community and making sure we knew about the history of Pearl Harbor, World War II, and how important our veterans are. He also taught us about life in Sleepy Hollow when he was growing up. Mr. Galella's close friend, John Horan, was the first resident from Sleepy Hollow to pass in World War II at Pearl Harbor and Horan's Landing is named after him. Chick organized the placement of a monument at Horan's Landing for his friend's mother and all Gold Star Mothers. We lost Mr. Galella last year at the age of 100 and we all miss him.

For my Eagle Scout Service Project, I want to make a memorial for Chick. The memorial I would like to build will be in front of the Middle School/High School and will overlook the Hudson River. It will have a concrete slab, two benches, a bronze plaque and two native cherry trees. My hope is that this will be a place where people can sit and reflect on what a great person Chick was and the veterans he fought with.

My goal of $7,500 is for the concrete slab, the plantings, and the plaque. Please consider donating to help me create this memorial in honor of Chick Galella and what he stood for.

Preparing for Flight,

Dylan