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Emerson Police Donate $12K To Boy Scout Building Memory Garden

EMERSON, N.J. — The Emerson Police Department will be presenting a $12,000 check to 15-year-old Boy Scout who’s bringing a memory garden to the borough for his Eagle Scout Project.

Emerson Boy Scout Franklin Praschil proudly wears his uniform.

Emerson Boy Scout Franklin Praschil proudly wears his uniform.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Praschil
Emerson Police Sgt. Joe Alasio, left, and Det. Ryan Sokerka sell tee-shirts to benefit Praschil and the Emerson Memory Garden at ShopRite on Oct. 11.

Emerson Police Sgt. Joe Alasio, left, and Det. Ryan Sokerka sell tee-shirts to benefit Praschil and the Emerson Memory Garden at ShopRite on Oct. 11.

Photo Credit: Emerson Memory Garden Facebook
Franklin Praschil, 15, hopes the grass beneath him will soon be replaced by the Emerson Memory Garden.

Franklin Praschil, 15, hopes the grass beneath him will soon be replaced by the Emerson Memory Garden.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Praschil

Sgt. Joe Alasio and Detective Ryan Sokerka raised the funds for Franklin Praschil’s check through “No Shave November” t-shirt sales that began in October (SEE: Boy Scout Bringing Memory Garden To Emerson With Help From Police).

They sold 600 shirts and are still trying to sell the remaining 50.

“[The memory garden] is a really important project because Franklin is doing this out of the goodness of his heart,” Alasio told Daily Voice. “He suffered a loss — his grandma passed away — and dealing with death as a child not an easy thing.”

The EPD was mourning the loss of former Capt. David Hayes to prostate cancer at the same time Praschil was grieving for his grandmother, the sergeant said.

“The memory garden is a really good way to remember loved ones in a positive way.” Alasio said. “Emerson is a very tight community — a family town — and things like this just bring the family a little close together.”

The EPD is planning donating $2,500 to Memorial Sloan Kettering in memory of Hayes this winter and the memory garden is expected to be completed in the spring.

Monday’s ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the police station, 146 Linwood Ave.

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