Belmont Girl Scouts Ready to Revive Clay Pit Pond Flag Pole

It's a memorial for all from Belmont who served, fought and died in the nation's wars.

The Veterans flag pole at Clay Pit Pond across from Belmont High School – the town's tallest – was dedicated on Memorial Day 1940 by the local American Legion post, not knowing that within two years, Belmont would be sending hundreds of its young men and women into a second world war.

Since it was anointed, the area around the pole and a plaque commemorating that day more than 70 years ago has become threadbare. There are few plantings and flowers around the beat up plaque with the exception of the the stray blooming early-spring bulbs.

Now, three members of Girl Scout Troop 71930 in Belmont are working to improve the area with a much-needed introduction of color and structure.  

Natalia Gorman, Olivia Hardy and Sophie Schatzki-McClain are planning to landscape the area surrounding the pole with native and hardy shrubs and plants in an effort to revive the location this spring.

The proposal is part of the girls' Silver Award project, the second-highest award a Girl Scout can achieve, and is the highest Cadette Girl Scouts can earn.

After taking several trips to Clay Pit Pond last year while working on their Tree Identification Badge, the girls decided to focus on a project to improve the Veterans flag pole area.  

They began by writing a proposal detailing possible improvements they could work on. The girls met with Mary Trudeau, Belmont's Conservation Commission Agent, who encouraged them to continue refining their ideas and to bring them to the Conservation Commission for approval since the flag pole is so close to the pond.

The girls then met with John Maguranis, Belmont's Veterans' Agent, to discuss
their proposal to landcape the flag pole area. He was enthusiastic, saying that he thought local veterans would be very pleased with the project.

The girls have been raising money starting with a successful yard sale raising $500 in November. They have also sent out a fundraising letter to civic and conservation organizations in Belmont, and have received some private donations as well. They are almost halfway to their goal of $3,000, which is the estimated cost of the plants and the compost and mulch for the project.

Last week, the girls presented their Silver Award project proposal to the Conservation Commission, outlining their plan to landscape the flag pole area using native and hardy shrubs and plants. And the Commission approved their proposal to conduct the work.

Natalia, Olivia, and Sophie are continuing to work on fundraising and are looking to start ordering the plants in late April and begin site preparation and planting in May.  

Their fondest hope is to finish this project before this year's Memorial Day activities.

Want to contribute? Checks can be made out to Girl Scout Troop 71930 and sent care of Anne Paulsen, 90 School St., Belmont, MA 02478 or Gretchen McClain, 87 School St., Belmont, MA 02478