GIVING FAMILIES CLOSURE: The Gold Star Marker sits in the Rose Garden, where families can now come and pay respects to their loved one who passed in the line of duty.

THOMASVILLE — Local Boy Scout Joseph Kimler has been working toward his Eagle Scout since first grade. One of the most important steps in any Boy Scout’s journey to Eagle is the Eagle Scout project. It’s a mission that takes time and dedication, displaying the scout’s leadership abilities in service to the community.

For Kimler’s Eagle Scout Project he worked with the Garden Club in Thomasville to deliver a Gold Star Marker to the Rose Garden. The marker serves as a memorial and representation of soldiers who have lost their lives in service to the United States. Before Kimler’s project, there were only eight Gold Star Markers in Georgia and the closest one was in Tifton. Now, the Gold Star Families of Thomasville have somewhere local they can go to honor their loved ones.

“It helps the families get closure,” Kimler said.

Though the installation of the Gold Star took just two days, the project took much longer. Kimler spent nearly six months and worked with local businesses to raise money to get the Gold Star to Thomasville. Kimler was able to raise $2,000 and then spent two work days installing the Gold Star Marker and putting up fencing, plants, and pine straw.

During their two work days, a local Gold Star Family approached Kimler and gifted him the Navy Seal Trident that they were given at their son’s funeral as a thank you for what Kimler was doing. The gesture shows just how much the Gold Star Marker means to the families who have lost loved ones in service.

The following weekend, Kimler’s project was completed with a ceremony. The Gold Star Marker now sits in the Rose Garden as a reminder to all of the sacrifice so many families make for the protection of our freedom.