HARRISBURG — Harrisburg senior center Blake Eversmann is a leader–not only on his football team, but in his community. That leadership is getting noticed.

The Chicago Bears notified Eversmann via Zoom earlier this week that he was a winner of their Community All-Star Award, given to a high school football player making a positive impact on his community and school.

“I was really shocked when I found out I was selected,” said Eversmann.

The award includes an official NFL football that has been hand painted with the honor as well as other prizes including a $500 donation to the charity of his choice. Eversmann has chosen the Veterans Memorial Preservation Fund.

For the past three years, Eversmann has worked to improve Harrisburg’s Little Arlington, the area founded 90 years ago at Sunset Lawn Cemetery to honor those from Saline County who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“My freshman year English teacher Miss Crystal Wilson gave us all a project after reading “Gift of the Magi” to go out and give something to our community, whether it be your time, your money, or anything you have to give back to the people you’ve been around all your life,” said Eversmann. “Me and my grandfather talked a lot about this, and he gave me the idea that the crosses may be tumbling. They may be broken and getting dirty, so let’s go clean them.”

Eversmann’s grandfather fought in Vietnam. His great-grandfather fought in World War II. Their service helped turn a freshman English project into something much bigger.

“From a young age I’ve always been told to respect a veteran you see walking down the street. You go up and shake their hand and say ‘thank you for your service,'” Eversmann said. “Just to see those crosses breaking and getting dirty really hit me in the heart. I decided I wanted to do everything I could to make sure they stayed clean and maybe get new ones”

Eversmann reached out to Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek to see what could be done. With the help of one of his grandpa’s friends, Randy Nyberg, he was able to help raise enough money with a fundraiser selling smoked meats to not only buy new crosses but also pour a concrete pad to help protect those crosses. That effort caught the eye of his coach Gabe Angelly, who nominated him for this award.

“To see what the cemetery was before and knowing that it was getting run down and for him to be one of the leaders to spearhead not only cleaning the crosses, but he’s helping with fundraisers to improve that area,” said Angelly. “It’s very cool to have that kind of kid on the team–have somebody that not only cares about his team, cares about his school, but he cares about the community he lives in. He wants to make sure it’s bettered so years down the road other people can look at that and have a sense of pride.”

Eversmann’s grandfather passed away in September. Blake admitted it seemed like a daunting task to continue what they had started without him. But with an assist from some junior high helpers, the job not only got done, but now there’s a group ready to continue the effort Eversmann started. It’s an effort that has become a labor love.

“I drove by there one night, and they have those three crosses for the unknown soldiers in the back, and lights were just shining on them,” said Eversmann. “I almost cried because (by) just wanting to clean crosses for a school project, we were able to gather the money and materials to honor the men and women who lost their lives fighting for my ability to stand here and talk about these things. It was nothing short of breathtaking, being able to see the crosses themselves getting flooded by the lights whenever it hits dark. And just seeing them in the natural sunlight with the wind blowing through, it is beautiful. It’s beyond astonishing.”

Eversmann also has volunteered at the VA Hospital, but that had to be put on hold due to the pandemic. He will be heading to the University of Alabama in the fall where he plans to study psychology and political science.

Here is the official press release sent out by the Bears.