Brian Fletcher was determined to use his Eagle Scout project to do good for his community.
To attain the highest level of Boy Scouts, the project is required with the goal of giving back to the community. Fletcher, who attended St. Thomas More Cathedral School in Arlington, chose to beautify his alma mater’s Marian prayer area and surrounding grounds to, as he said, “create a more welcoming place for prayer and reflection.”
Fletcher remembered attending the school when its campus lacked outdoor stations of the cross, which were installed after he graduated. On a return visit, he noticed they had fallen into disrepair from harsh weather and other damage, so much so that some stations were missing. Fletcher sought to change that and help the school enjoy “an environment that would inspire prayer and bring people closer to Christ and the Blessed Mother.”
The project had to be approved and fully planned before work could begin. Fortunately, school Principal Ann LaBarge and Father Nicholas Barnes, parish administrator, as well as Fletcher’s Scoutmaster, troop committee, and district were convinced the good this project would entail and gave full permission. The work could finally begin. From September to November 2025, Fletcher, with the help of his family and various parish members in a team that totaled 20 volunteers worked to repair and restore the school’s stations of the cross, each with new plagues with descriptions in both English and Spanish. Fletcher organized and led the project, working to stay on schedule, solving conflict and assigning tasks. His parents helped him have plaques and illustrations for the stations of the cross transported from Italy to arrive just in time for them to be placed, despite a very challenging timeline in what Fletcher describes as “a series of small miracles.” They also helped him make his own molds for the Mary garden cinderblocks. The parish also supported the project, helping Fletcher with coordination and transport of materials. Fletcher’s team worked tirelessly to repaint and repair areas around the school such as the Marian garden where he repainted the garden bridge blue, made his own cinderblocks to replace missing blocks, restored the garden beds, and cleaning the statue in the garden. His team also worked to repaint the nearby erosion wall along with the fire lane wall and curb yellow so drivers could better see it at night.
Father Barnes lauded Fletcher’s work, noting, “He has been a wonderful young man in service to our parish in many respects, including this recent Eagle Scout project. He is always respectful and seeks the initiative to help.” Fletcher, a graduate of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria who plans to pursue a commission as a U.S. Navy officer in the future at the Virginia Military Institute said the experience strengthened his faith immensely, allowing him to better understand the Passion of Christ, bringing him closer to the trials and suffering Jesus endured.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blessed the project July 4. Through the time and hard work he spent giving back to his community, Fletcher hopes that his project will help the parish for years to come. “St. Thomas More Cathedral School and the cathedral parish have served thousands of students and families,” Fletcher said. “I wanted to give something back to a community that has given so much to others.”
