Author: Mike Matzinger
Alexis McCullough, a Life Scout in Troop 319G in St. George, Illinois, led the creation of a Gold Star Families Memorial as her Eagle Scout service project. The monument features images that represent four core values of military service: homeland, family, patriotism, and sacrifice. While each of these ideals holds deep meaning, one image in particular resonates with Alexis more than the others.
The image symbolizing “family” depicts Alexis as a young girl, holding hands with her father, Col. Mark McCullough, who is shown in his Army uniform. Col. McCullough passed away in October 2019, just weeks before Alexis’s 12th birthday, making her part of the Gold Star families community. His death sparked her drive to create the monument as part of her service project.
In the image, Alexis is also holding her mother Cassandra’s hand. Cassandra, her steadfast supporter and biggest cheerleader, played a pivotal role in helping Alexis raise over $120,000 for the monument and its landscaping.
Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore, a former Scoutmaster, noted that over the years he’s guided countless Scouts on their service projects, but none have been as ambitious or as costly as Alexis’s.
