Through the years, the tree roots, weather and erosion take their toll on many wooded cemeteries in the Alexandria area so when the scouts at Hayfield Troop 1519 became aware of this happening at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria, Jayden Moseley jumped in an took it on for his Eagle Scout project.

His project, called the “Ivy Hill Cemetery Conservation Improvement project,” employed planning and manpower to help preserve this historical cemetery. Jayden’s grandparents are buried there, and also a fellow friend and scout of Troop 1519 so he looked at this with familiarity as well. Not only are the graves of his relatives at this cemetery but also graves of Charles Goodman a modernist architect and primary architect for Hollin Hills, and Wernher von Braun, the German rocket scientist who created the V-2 ballistic missile.

Discussing the project beforehand

 

They all set their sights on Saturday, March 9 to meet at the cemetery and the rain came out as well, but this didn’t hinder the project. In fact, Jayden and other volunteer scouts that came to help brushed off a little rainfall and mud, completing the project as planned.

They worked with the current Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society, led by Lucy Goddin, to establish what steps needed to be taken and the materials needed to make this a positive addition to this part of Alexandria. The scouts planted native trees and shrubs, put in mulch and replaced benches that were in disrepair. 

“The entire project was fantastic and shows the Hayfield community and our BSA Troop 1519 is the best troop and live by the scout law,” said Jayden.

The Scout Law has many virtues that sit well in the Moseley family including trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, and these were all part of the energy that went into this project.