ROCHESTER —  Eagle Scout and Junior Friends of the Library Teen Mentor, Colin Mackin, led the Plumb Memorial Library Junior Friends Group for its fifth annual CenterPeace Project on Nov. 1 to honor veterans. 

Mackin, a junior at Old Rochester Regional High School, plans a design each year for centerpieces to donate to the Rochester Council on Aging for table decorations for their annual Veterans Day Dinner. This year, it will be held on Nov. 5.  After the dinner, many of the centerpiece boxes are placed at veterans’ grave sites to honor those who have passed away. 

The junior collects materials to recycle and cuts fresh pine and euonymus to fill out 12 patriotic boxes, along with flags, flowers, peace on Earth images and messages of thanks to local veterans for their dedication and sacrifices.

Mackin, a long time volunteer and supporter of the Plumb Library Junior Friends Group, led by Lisa Fuller, comes from a long line of veterans and holds this project with the highest level of respect. He hopes to instill that same respect in the younger teens he mentors at both the library and in his scouting program.