WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Leo Hamalainen was somber as he pointed to his great-grandfather’s and great-uncle’s names on the bricks surrounding the World War I and II monument at Veterans Park on Railroad Row on Nov. 2.
“It reminds me why I did it,” he said.
“It” was his Eagle Scout project. It took more than a year and is now nearly complete: a flagpole to go with the two monuments at Veterans Park. One honors Hartford residents who served in World War I and World War II. The other honors those who served in the Korean, Vietnam and post-1975 eras.
The solemn moment contrasted with the big smile on the face of the 16-year-old Hartford High School sophomore as the flagpole was raised, signaling the near completion of the effort he dreamed up, fundraised for, planned and implemented.
“There are so many emotions that go into it,” Hamalainen said. “It’s here! It’s amazing!”
Hamalainen said the first monument inspired him. It was installed in 2024. He began working with the Hartford Monument Committee as it planned the second monument. That one was dedicated on Memorial Day this year, completing the committee’s work, according to Mary Kay Brown, the committee’s former chair.
“I spent many late nights with my parents discussing what a good project would be,” Hamalainen said. The project had to benefit the scouts and community members, he said, and be “a project, at least in my eyes, that felt substantial enough.”
According to Scouting America’s Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, the project must “present an opportunity for planning, development, and leadership.” Nearly 28,000 scouts earned the Eagle rank in 2025, according to Scouting America, down from nearly 50,000 in 2005, according to the organization’s data.
Veterans Park is dedicated to honoring veterans, so Hamalainen said a flagpole seemed like “an outstanding project idea” to complete the site. He settled on it in August 2025 and got to work.
“It would not have been possible without the community,” Hamalainen said.
He worked with Hartford Parks and Recreation Director Scott Hausler to get the project approved. Hausler said Hamalainen had to navigate the town’s planning and development office for permitting, and work with an engineer to design the flagpole’s base appropriately for the potential wind load.
Hamalainen also handwrote about 50 letters to local businesses and organizations and raised around $5,000 to buy and ship the 35-foot flagpole. Hausler said the first delivery was of the wrong pole and had to be sent back.
Community members donated their time and expertise for the electrical work on the flagpole’s dual-beam lighting, which will be installed soon. They also helped with the concrete pad and the landscaping. Hamalainen said he will plant a garden around the pole next spring, when he also plans to hold a dedication ceremony.
Hausler suggested a crew from Green Mountain Power, which raised the flagpole on Nov. 2, “just like they raise electrical poles,” Hamalainen said.
“We like to help people out,” said Kevin Matte, operations supervisor at Green Mountain Power. “It’s an awesome project.”
The project took a lot of networking, communication and coordination. “I’ve learned more than a classroom has taught me,” Hamalainen said.
It also took a lot longer than he expected. Hamalainen said he “failed repeatedly” and had to rethink the process, which was “frustrating at times.” He has spent 11 years in scouting with Troop 45 and 2 1/2 years working toward the Eagle Scout requirements, plus all the time and energy he put into this final project. Still, “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “Scouting has been so beneficial for me.”
