Eagle scouts to lay wreath at Hayes Presidential in honor of Rutherford Hayes
In March 2022, Eagle Scouts Brock S. Huebner and Jacob Tumidolsky of Pickerington laid two wreaths at the Flight 93 memorial to the crew and passengers of United 93, who died fighting terrorists who highjacked their plane on Sept. 11, 2001.
“Jacob and I were not even born yet when the attacks happened, and we felt it was right to pay our respects not only to the passengers and crew of Flight 93 for their courageous actions, but to the 3,000 innocent lives that were lost that day,” Huebner said.
Afterward, Huebner turned to Tumidolsky and suggested they lay wreaths at the tombs of all the presidents and first ladies who had passed away.
“Jacob said it would be an incredible honor,” Huebner said.
In July 2022, they their journey to do just that and started with President William Henry Harrison’s tomb in North Bend, Ohio. Then they went to Benjamin Harrison’s tomb in Indianapolis and to Abraham Lincoln’s in Springfield, Illinois.
The trip continued with more stops, and on Friday, April 12, the pair laid a wreath at the bust of President Rutherford B. Hayes in the rotunda of the Hayes Museum. Due to rain, the wreath was placed there for the ceremony and will relocated to the presidential tomb when the weather cleared.
Earlier that day, the pair laid a wreath at the tomb of President Warren G. Harding in Marion, Ohio. Next, Huebner and Tumidolsky were headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they would lay a wreath at the tomb of President Gerald Ford, who also was an Eagle Scout.
“Maybe Hayes isn’t as much well known as a president as Lincoln or Washington or JFK,” Tumidolsky said. “I believe that his time is in office is extremely important…every president in some way leave a lasting effect, and I’m glad to honor a president like Hayes in this way.”
Josh Dubbert, Hayes Presidential Library & Museums historian, shared some comments about Rutherford and Lucy Hayes’ lives and legacies, and Joan Eckermann, special events and volunteer coordinator, sang “Amazing Grace.”
A video of the ceremony is available above.
The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection.
Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio. For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook at @rbhayespres and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres.