A rainbow bridge brought to life by an Eagle Scout service project is connecting more than two pet cemeteries at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. It’s a space for the community to reflect on their beloved furry family members.
Giuliano Fazzolari, who is part of Boy Scouts of America Troop 75 in Gardners, found a way to combine his interest in mechanical engineering with a symbolic, “physical representation” when pets pass away.
The Biglerville High School junior said he built an arch bridge by the pond at the Cumberland Township property connecting the two pet cemeteries. He had the help of four troop leaders, three Boy Scouts and a Cub Scout.
Including the labor and planning, Giuliano estimated he spent over 150 hours on the project and plans to submit it for his Eagle Scout service project.
“It’s meaningful to the cemetery and for all the pets that are here,” Giuliano said.
Giuliano said he used a 3-D printer to create the stencil for the arch on the bridge.
“There really is no better way to create an arch on a bridge,” Giuliano said, noting that he hopes to go to college for mechanical engineering.
The bridge “turned out better than expected,” according to Giuliano.
Giuliano’s family spoke of their Boston Terrier named Daisy who crossed a rainbow bridge in 2021.
“We never replaced her because you can’t replace her,” Giuliano’s father Nick said.
The best part for Nick was seeing the entire project come together, he said.
Giuliano’s mother, Sharleen said it made her “very proud” to see her son go through this “whole journey.”
“He started in first grade in Cub Scouts, and this is the final step in the Boy Scout process,” she said. “He has earned every rank the whole way through, and this is the last one. I’m extremely proud.”
Stephanie Baum, founder and president of Forever Love Rescue, Inc., took over assisting with the pet cemeteries at Oak Lawn in September 2021.
“We never were able to get to the pet cemetery,” said Cindy Codori-Shultz, one of the Oak Lawn volunteer coordinators. “The volunteer focus was on the main cemetery.”
After yearslong deterioration at the cemetery, the brush was so high that the pet area was “almost completely forgotten about,” Baum said with emotion.
“Nobody even knew they were here,” Baum said.
Warren Sheppard and Mows It All came out to the cemetery and took care of the brush, according to Baum.
“Once you could see the two sides, it became divided with the runoff here,” Baum said, adding they thought it should be connected in some way.
Baum had three boys who became Eagle Scouts.
“I knew the Boy Scouts would be perfect for this project,” Baum said.
Baum went to the council level to move the project forward.
“It is everything we pictured it would be. We wanted to do it to remember all the pets that are here, so when people come, they know there are more,” Baum said.
Codori-Shultz said she could see “the thought that went into” the project.
“It far exceeds what I imagined. It is done so well. This is not just a rainbow bridge,” Codori-Shultz said. “It is a healing bridge.”
Codori-Shultz said she lost her rescue dog, Colby in April and her Shih Tzu mix named Molly in October.
Colby was a therapy dog and later assisted her father, she said.
“Losing him took such a big part of my soul,” Codori-Shultz said. “Even though Colby is not buried out here, I can see him in my mind he’s crossing a little bridge like this.”
Baum also lost her Pugs this year, Pugsley in February and Memphis in March within 32 days of one another.
“They are here, whether they are or not,” Baum said.
The bridge cost approximately $900 including $500 raised by Loyal Companion Pet Cremation, Inc., in Hanover as well as other donations from Ocker & Associates and friends and family, according to Giuliano. Pat Arentz General Services laid and donated the concrete for the project, Baum said.