From: "Fred Goodwin, CMA" 

Boy Scout project a symbol of faith

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007
By Brock Cooper
mndotant{at}theramp.net

A local Boy Scout has braved bitter cold and harsh winds to erect an
unwavering symbol of faith in a La Salle cemetery.

Eric Hallen of La Salle placed a 16-foot-tall cross with a statue of Jesus
in St. Hyacinth Cemetery as his service project to become an Eagle Scout.

Planning for the project began in late summer after Deacon Charles Burgess
mentioned the cemetery had no overt signs of Christianity identifying it as
a Catholic cemetery.

It was during the planning phase that Hallen found out a 15-by-22 plot that
had been saved for a shrine garden in 1964.

"We are extremely happy," Hallen's mother, Sue, said. "Eric
has worked many, many hours on the project."

Hallen, with the help of his brother, Greg, a landscape architecture
student at the University of Illinois, designed a 16-foot crucifix that
included a Cedar cross, fiberglass statue of Jesus and stone base.

Hallen, a member of Oglesby Troop 0715, had hoped to begin construction in
February, but cold weather hampered his efforts and he was only able to
begin the project about 10 days ago.

"I've come out here pretty much every day since then," Hallen said.

When he first arrived, the ground was frozen 18 inches and he had to use a
power auger to dig a hole for the cross. He then had to dig the hole for
the base, but Hallen needed a way to thaw the ground.

"Initially, we tried melting it with salt and a blow torch, but that
didn't work so well," Hallen said.

He ended up putting a tent around the work area and used a propane heater
to thaw the ground so he could begin the base. Hallen not only faced the
elements in his quest to erect the crucifix, but also a time crunch.

He needed to have the project completed by his 18th birthday, which is
Sunday. Hallen has spent 3-4 hours during the week and more than eight
hours on Saturday.

"In a few more hours, we'll be done," Hallen said Tuesday afternoon.

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