On May 21, 2005, (Armed Forces Day, JoeMartone), an honor student at Kellenberg Memorial High School, carried out his Boy Scout Eagle service project along with the help from his fellow Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 45 of Mineola.

Martone's project consisted of collecting supplies for the soldiers in Iraq and monetary donations to purchase phone cards.

Martone, and the Scouts from Troop 45, stood outside King Kullen in Mineola and Waldbaums in Carle Place, handing leaflets to shoppers as they entered the stores, informing them about his project and what he was collecting, supplies needed by the soldiers serving in Iraq. Shoppers that chose to make a donation dropped off their items in a shopping cart or made cash donations as they exited the store.

All of the supplies were stored in the basement of Corpus Christi Church until the following week, where the Scouts met and packaged these collected items. All together, the scouts packaged 38 boxes or 1600 pieces that were donated of needed items. These boxes were then shipped out to Iraq through a non-profit organization known as Onsight Support, located in Copiague. The unit receiving these packages was part of the Military Police Battalion, located outside Baghdad.

Martone also stood in the vestibule of Corpus Christi Church on May 21, 2005 where an announcement was made before and after each Mass about what he was doing for the soldiers in Iraq and if any of the parishioners wanted to make a donation. Their cash donation would be put toward purchasing phone cards. The parishioners were huge contributors and played a huge part in his project.

All in all, Martone was able to raise $2,020 and purchase 202 phone cards at the Mineola Post Office. As a result of this large donation, Postmaster Stuart Cohen had a special display case built to commemorate the work that was done and to bring attention to the efforts made by the Scouts of Troop 45.

When Martone was asked why he undertook such a huge project, he responded, "The reason I carried out this project was to benefit the soldiers because I felt not enough was being done to support the men and women of our armed forces. I find that not enough people support their soldiers but worry more about whether the war was right or wrong. In addition, the soldiers that make up our armed forces come from all different communities, such as Mineola. I felt that if I could get the support from communities to gather supplies and raise money to be donated to these men and women that I could make a difference, and I feel I did. Being a soldier is a job these men and women volunteered to do and by doing this, I felt it was the least we can do to show our appreciation for what they are doing while they are serving overseas. Their desire to come home is the same desire for us to never be where they are. To bring them the comforts of home or at least be given the chance to talk to their loved ones, replaces the thought that they may not live to see tomorrow."

Martone thanked the scouts and leaders as well as the community for making his project a success. "I would also like to thank Fr. Bowman, pastor of Corpus Christi Church for his approval of allowing me to package the items in the basement of the church, and the parishioners for all their contributions that helped me to purchase as many phone cards as I did. A special thanks also goes to the members of American Legion Post #349 of Mineola and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Block #1305 who helped me along the way and supported me throughout this entire process," he said.