Cheltenham Eagle Scout Honors Local Veterans with Permanent Historical Marker Signs

Cheltenham High School junior Benjamin Sampson has officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout following the completion of an ambitious, 148-hour community service project dedicated to honoring local military veterans.

Sampson’s initiative focused on the historic Cheltenham Methodist Church Cemetery (owned by Gospel of Grace Ministry), where residents from Cheltenham, Oak Lane, and Cheltenham Village gather each Memorial Day to honor veterans buried on the grounds, stretching from the Civil War to World War II. To replace aging, hand-painted yard signs originally created by Pastor Charles Kelly, Sampson proposed designing permanent wooden markers styled after official Pennsylvania historical markers.

Working in collaboration with Cedarbrook Middle School (CBK) teacher Omar Rose, Sampson selected cedar wood for durability to create the signs. After Sampson drafted 16 custom designs using computer-aided design (CAD) software, Rittenhouse Lumber and Millwork donated the required cedar wood for the project.

Beginning in March 2026, Sampson rallied a team of student volunteers from Cheltenham High School and scouts from Troop 22 to construct the signs. Under the supervision of Mr. Rose in the CBK shop, the team used computer numerical control (CNC) carving and carbon laser engraving to precisely render the detailed text into the wood. In the final phase, more than 20 students and scouts volunteered to apply specialized weather-resistant outdoor paint, purchased at a discount from the local Sherwin-Williams on Cheltenham Avenue.

The finished signs made their official debut on May 25, 2026, during the East Cheltenham Memorial Day ceremony to widespread community praise. Sampson officially passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review on August 10, 2026.

Sampson expressed deep gratitude to the student and parent volunteers, Pastor Charles Kelly, Rittenhouse Lumber and Millwork, Sherwin-Williams, and especially Mr. Rose for providing guidance, expertise, and shop space throughout the project.

The Cheltenham School District Board of School Directors formally recognized Sampson for his achievement at the Tuesday, September 8 legislative board meeting. Photos>