Article Display

Boy scout explains Shaw's history through Eagle scout project

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Minor
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  After hard work and dedication, Jeffrey Decedue's Eagle Scout project brought history to life here through the signs surrounding Memorial Lake. Next, a dedication ceremony Dec. 17 will highlight his efforts.

According to Jeffrey Decedue, a boy scout advancing toward Eagle scout, the idea for the project started in the summer of 2008 while he was on vacation. He started discussing the idea with his Scout Master and Troop Committee in October 2008. The project for Memorial Lake took a year and four months to complete.

"My family and I were on vacation in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2008," Decedue said. "We saw many different monuments and exhibits that had many different types of plaques and signs (informing us) about the monument we were seeing. I was discussing some ideas of Eagle projects with my mom and dad when the D.C. trip came to mind. We looked at vacation pictures and then it hit us. We thought some Air Force history signs would be awesome to have around Memorial Lake at Shaw."

To inform Airman of Shaw history, one of the many signs at Memorial Lake read: "Shaw Field also served as a Prisoner of War camp for German POW'S from March 1945 to March 1946. A housing area in the front of the base was converted into a prison camp. The prisoners would help on local farms or cut pulpwood."

There were 14 different groups that provided donations for this project. Nine groups donated money to help pay for the cost of the project, while the other five helped with either supplied materials or their time to complete the project.

"This project seemed to be something that would be different and give everyone at Shaw the opportunity to read about the history of Shaw and the Air Force," Mr. Decedue added.

Now that the project is completed, Decedue can turn in his workbook and go through the Eagle Scout review board to see if he is approved for the rank of Eagle Scout.