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Eagle Scout leads Broome County in establishing memorial for crime victims

It started as an idea to honor his mother, and now Schyler Savage's Crime Victims Memorial project is becoming a reality for the residents of Broome County.

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Recently, local officials joined future Eagle Scout Schyler Savage at Roundtop Park to break ground on Binghamton's first crime victims memorial to honor and remember the victims.

The idea was presented to Executive Director Jason Garnar, who has seen Savage go from the baseball field to partnering on a community project. The Savage family watched proudly as Schyler donned his hard hat and picked up a shovel for the ceremonial groundbreaking to represent “the power of one person's vision to create lasting change.”

The memorial will feature a walkway leading to a heart-shaped raised garden in the center, surrounded by a retaining wall and a terrace. The names of those who lost their lives to crime will be engraved on the granite tiles.

For many of those involved, this event brought things full circle.

“This memorial will serve as a place of peace and remembrance for families who have suffered unimaginable loss,” said Christine Battisti, executive director of the Crime Victims Assistance Center. “Schyler's dedication to turning his personal grief into a source of healing for the entire community is nothing short of inspirational. We are honored to work with him and the county to ensure that the memory of crime victims is preserved and honored.”

“This is much more than an Eagle Scout project”

After the tragic loss of his mother last year, Savage is offering the community a place to heal and remember loved ones who have lost their lives to crime. Savage shared his vision for the memorial on Thursday.

“I envisioned an Eagle Scout project to honor her, creating a memorial to the victims of crime that families, friends and visitors could see and admire,” Savage said.

State Senator Lea Webb said the Crime Victims Wall is “a call to action for our community to work together to improve public safety and support families in their healing process.”

“Schyler's commitment to this project is a powerful example of how one person can have a lasting impact on an entire community,” Garnar said. “This memorial will be a place of healing and remembrance for generations to come. Broome County is pleased to support this process and bring Schyler's vision to life.”

Would you like your loved one’s name to be on the memorial wall?

As of last Thursday, 173 names have been planned for the wall, dating back to 1979. The Crime Victims Assistance Center will reach out to the families and accept requests from families who would like to get involved.

For more information, contact CVAC at (607) 723-3200 or visit https://cvac.us/.

Would you like to contribute to the Crime Victims Memorial Project?

The total cost of the project is $150,000, with Broome County covering much of the cost and home-build costs. Webb has secured a $50,000 contribution.

Participants in Eagle Scout projects must complete certain tasks. Savage is responsible for designing the memorial garden, a statue centerpiece and assembling the names on the wall. He will also raise funds to complete the memorial and cover the cost of the engraved tile.

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The Binghamton Black Bears will wear a special jersey at a game in October and a jersey auction will be held at the conclusion of the game. All proceeds will go to the memorial fundraiser. Various fundraising opportunities will be available leading up to opening day. Donations are currently being accepted on the Crime Victims website under the “Memorial Wall 2025” tab.

Construction work is scheduled to be completed by April 2025, in time for Crime Victims Week.

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