Pascack Hills senior earns Eagle Scout rank with veterans memorial project

Austin H. Miller, a senior at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest advancement level in the Boy Scouts of America. The Woodcliff Lake resident completed his project with Montvale Troop 334, which is chartered by the Montvale Fire Department.

The project involved creating a wall of remembrance for veterans at his school. Miller researched former students who served in the military and traveled to Washington, D.C., to view the names of those veterans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He then sourced discarded furniture and repurposed it into a frame for the physical display at Pascack Hills.

Miller’s motivation for the project stemmed from his family history. His grandfathers, Peter M. Strassberg and Harold Miller, as well as his great-grandfather, George Strassberg, all served in the military. Miller developed the project concept, raised the necessary funds, and oversaw the construction of the memorial wall.

The student also created an AI-based resource to help other schools build similar veterans walls. This tool is available online at hero-history-hub.replit.app. Miller aimed to make the project useful beyond his own school by providing a method for other institutions to connect students with their local veterans’ history.

Miller’s Scouting career began in Woodcliff Lake’s Cub Scout Pack 349 under Cubmaster Adam Schwartz. After joining Troop 334, he received guidance from Scoutmasters Dan Sawitz, Bob O’Neill, and David Hill. During his time in the troop, he served as a patrol leader, troop guide, and troop instructor, roles that allowed him to mentor younger Scouts.

Miller is the son of Carolyn J. Strassberg and Rick Miller and is the middle of three sons. At Pascack Hills, he balances Scouting with varsity soccer and lacrosse. He currently serves as the executive public relations officer for the student government. This year, he is taking five Advanced Placement classes after earning all A’s in six AP classes last year, with scores of 4 or 5 on his AP exams.

A Court of Honor ceremony is planned for next year to officially recognize his achievement. Miller expects to celebrate alongside fellow Scouts who have completed their Eagle projects or are working toward the same rank. He plans to finish his senior year before heading to college, though he has not yet decided on a field of study.