PORT ST. LUCIE – The City Council here lauded a 15-year-old Eagle Scout candidate for her submariner presentation she’s designing and planning to place in a city park at the southeast corner of Crosstown Parkway and Floresta Boulevard as a tribute to her late grandfather who served in the U.S. Navy as a submariner.

Parks & Recreation Director Brad Keen kicked off the presentation that evening during the Sept. 28 Council meeting.

“It is indeed my pleasure to stand before you and introduce a young lady who is actively seeking to earn the highest award that Scouting offers,” he said. “Astronauts, presidents and CEOs across the country have also earned this very prestigious award. For many, many years, it’s been a personal pleasure of mine to be able to work with local Eagle Scout candidates and help bring their Eagle Award to reality. Tonight is my distinct pleasure to introduce a local Eagle Scout candidate, Miss Erika Wilson.

Wilson, a member of Troop 4402, began her presentation with a brief description of herself.

“I’ve been a part of Scouting for seven years,” she said. “I joined as a Bear in Cub Scouts and then joined my troop in 2022. Currently, I’m the quartermaster and a life scout in my troop. I’m 15 years old and was born at the hospital in Stuart and raised in Port St. Lucie. My hobbies consist of cars, art, camping and shooting. I attend Somerset College Preparatory Academy and I’m a sophomore in high school.”

Wilson then turned her attention to her Eagle Scout project she’s titled The Silent Memorial.

“My project is on the USS Nautilus,” she continued. “It is a memorial plaque containing information about the ship’s accomplishments, the history behind its production, its first captain and mission as a naval submarine. My why for my project on the Nautilus is because my grandfather had passed away in May of 2026. He was in the navy for 20 years and worked on four different submarines.”

After the cheers and applause died down in the Chambers, Keen added a final tidbit of information.

“Miss Wilson is proposing to place her project at our city park that is the U.S. Submarine Veterans Park,” he told the Council. “It’s an appropriate place, it’s an appropriate project and Parks & Recreation supports it fully.”

Mayor Shannon Martin was the first Council member to comment afterward.

“It’s amazing what you’re planning to do,” she said. “You should be very proud. I’m very sorry you lost your grandfather, but what an amazing tribute it is to him and to your entire family. I think it’s going to be wonderful.”

Councilman Anthony Bonna acknowledged that Erika had made an impression upon him in a prior meeting.

“I had the opportunity to serve on the Eagle Board locally for a little while [and] interviewed a lot of potential Eagle Scouts,” he said. “When I first got in touch with Ms. Wilson, I was very impressed. A lot of these projects start out with the parents really laying down the groundwork and asking most of the questions. Erika was very hands-on and knows what she’s doing with this project. I know you’re going to do great on this. Thank you to all of the adults who are helping you along the way.”

For her part, Vice-Mayor Jolien Caraballo lives near the park in question and told Wilson she walks its pathway regularly.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I can tell you that was the intent of that park from the people that wanted to dedicate it. When the submariners came to the Council about it, they really wanted a place to call their own. With the fact that you’re adding onto that for them, I can only imagine their excitement. You’re very impressive and I think you’re going to knock it out of the park.”

Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan spoke of the special place the U.S. Submarine Veterans Park has in her heart because her own father was a submariner.

“My dad was a retired Navy submariner,” she said. “We all know they were instrumental in getting that area for the U.S. Submarine vets. So, congratulations and what a great honor. It’ll go on forever.”

Councilman David Pickett touted Wilson’s decision to place her Eagle Project in one of the city’s memorial parks.

“I think it’s really nice that you’re doing this project, especially putting it into a memorial park,” he said. “To have something done here locally by our youth is very special.”

Councilman Pickett closed out the presentation with a question for Erika.

“How many badges do you have?” he asked of the Scouting badges peppering her uniform.

“I believe 36 or 38,” she answered.

Once again, the Chambers thundered with applause.