Eagle project aims to complete retired Farmington firefighter's vision

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A retired Farmington Firefighter’s vision is a few steps closer to reality thanks to the work of a Farmington Boy Scout.

Kyle Kratz, a sophomore this year at Farmington High School, is using his Eagle Scout project to complete work started by Gale Sprute to recognize the emergency workers who died in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Sprute planted two blue spruce trees outside of the department’s fire station on Denmark Avenue, symbols of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Now, Kratz hopes to complete the memorial with a flagpole, a patio and a plaque.

“The whole idea was to look at the plaque, then the flag, then the trees, then the heavens,” Kratz said.

Kratz, who is also a member of the fire department’s Explorer program, said he knew right away he wanted his Eagle project to benefit the fire department. It was fire chief Tim Pietsch who pointed him toward the memorial.

“I thought it would be kind of a neat thing to do,” Kratz said. “I like to help out the firefighters.”

Kratz has been working since April on the paperwork associated with his project. He is currently making the rounds looking for donations to help pay for everything. His goal is to raise $3,000. The more he gets, the more complete the project will be. One part of Sprute’s plan for the site includes a sculpture of a resting eagle, for example. Kratz plans to use an eagle sculpture his grandfather carved, but if he raises enough money he’d like to get a more permanent metal sculpture.

Kratz, a member of Boy Scout Troop 116 in Farmington, has been a Scout since first grade. He’s known for a long time he wanted to get his Eagle rank. He’s looking forward to the process, but said he expects to have trouble just sitting and supervising when the work is done, hopefully later this year. Eagle Scout candidates are not allowed to do physical labor on their own projects. They are responsible for directing others.

Anyone who would like to donate to Kratz’s project can send a check made out to Troop 116 to Kyle Kratz, 18850 Excalibur Tr., Farmington, MN 55024

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