A family legacy of service to their country led a young man from Libby to take on a particularly ambitious Eagle Scout project.

Since members of the Thom family arrived here in the 1600s from Europe, they have answered the call to take up arms in defense of it.

Seventeen-year-old Dominic Thom, a junior at Libby Middle High School, was first a member of Cub Scout Pack 4925 at the age of six before he joined Libby’s Boy Scout Troop 1971. As he considered what he would do for his capstone project, his mother, Ashley, had an idea.

“I’m into family ancestry and I focus on history,” she said. “The family has had several members serve their country and Dom started thinking that a project to honor area veterans would be very appropriate.”

Knowing the graves of several veterans in the Libby Cemetery could use some tender, loving care, Dom, who has one brother currently serving with the U.S. Air Force and another who recently was in the U.S. Army, set his sights on rehabilitation.

“Over time, the head stones slowly sink and they tend to lose their level station,” Dom said during last week’s project. “So we set out to dig them up and get them leveled out.

“We wanted to show respect to the service members who rest here and make it better for those who come here to pay their respects,” Dom said.

After getting the unanimous support of councilors at the April 21 Libby City Council meeting, Thom picked a weekend and made arrangements with his Scout Troop mates to get the work done.

The goal was ambitious - lift 100 headstones in Section 10 with care, place enough sand under them to level them with the ground and reset the stones. And all in one weekend before family members begin decorating the graves in advance of Memorial Day.

Some of the stones, owing to their age, needed more care during removal. Some edges were cracked, also requiring special attention.

Work began Friday, May 9 after school. It continued through the weekend.

Thom had help from his dad, Chuck, Scoutmaster Chris Caudill and troop members Hayden Caudill, Jana Hall and Elry Hall.

They used spades to cut and edge the grass away from the grave stones. A bar was used to help lift the stones from their resting places before carefully lifting them so sand could be shoveled in to the hole.

When work began Friday afternoon, Dominic and Hayden Caudill began the process. The older Scout showed maturity beyond his years while explaining to Hayden, “I’ve been in Scouts as long as you’ve been alive.”

The group also had a surprise visit from former Scoutmaster Ron Thatcher who stopped to say hello and offer words of encouragement.

“It really meant a lot to everyone,” Ashley said.

Saturday and Sunday saw several more volunteers, some members of Troop 1971 and some not.

Troop members included Kale Hall, Emmette Lamson and Jace Muniz.

When the weekend was over, more than 50 stones were lifted and restored while several others had edging done so they were more easily seen.

“It was very satisfying to see everyone get together and accomplish what we wanted to do,” Dominic said. “We hope it will provide a better experience for those who come here to visit their loved ones.”