Sondra Hernandez Staff writer August 21, 2024

A Montgomery Eagle Scout candidate is inviting Montgomery County area veterans to sign and leave inspirational messages inside a wheelchair-accessible mobile hunting blind he constructed. 

The deer blind built by Cohen Rogers, 15, will be in the parking lot of military and veteran-themed restaurant Honor Cafe in downtown Conroe this week before it is donated to the organization Patriot Outfitters Aug. 26. It is scheduled to be there through Thursday to Friday. 

Honor Cafe is at 103 N. Thompson Street. 

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The project was coordinated by Montgomery High student Rogers and constructed by a team of roughly 15 fellow Boy Scouts, friends and family members. The completion of the project will put him one step closer to obtaining his Eagle Scout distinction.

The Eagle Scout Award is the highest honor available to youth members of the Boy Scouts of America, which will change its name to Scouting America in February. It recognizes a Scout’s many years of effort and successful completion of a long process that begins when they join the organization. 

Rogers, a member of Troop 491, has been in Scouts since elementary school. 

He enjoys hunting and the outdoors and wanted to bring the same experiences to disabled veterans across the state. His grandfather is a U.S. Air Force veteran. 

“One day I was with my dad and we were in a hunting blind and I was really enjoying it. Out of nowhere my dad was talking about it would be a great opportunity if veterans could come out here and do this,” he said. “I was thinking about that and it seemed like a great idea to build a hunting blind that could go everywhere and not be on one tract.” 

His dad, Tony, agreed, and his plan began to take shape. 

The trailer portion was donated through Montgomery Trailers. On two work days July 20-21 the group constructed the blind from wood. Then another day was set aside for painting. A veteran in a wheelchair will be able to wheel into the hunting blind from a ramp.

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Rogers family friend and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bobby Skinner connected with U.S. Marine Corps veteran Chris Sadler at Honor Cafe and the Sadler family agreed to host the trailer in the parking lot of their restaurant. 

“I’ve never met someone who achieved their Eagle Scout that wasn’t a great person,” Sadler said. “The best thing about his project as a whole is seeing veterans come out of there with tears in their eyes after they were able to leave a message for a disabled veteran. Every one of them will ask me to thank him (Cohen) personally. His heart for veterans is so, so valuable to us.” 

The trailer arrived last Tuesday. Passages include words of encouragement, scripture verses, service years and more. U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Conroe, signed it. Luttrell studied neuroscience at the University of Texas at Dallas after experiencing his own traumatic brain injury from a helicopter crash during a training operation.

Conroe mayor and U.S. Navy veteran Duke Coon also signed inside the blind. 

“Veterans fought for our country and they should have something given to them because they’ve done something for us,” Rogers said. “They need to have something to let them enjoy life.” 

The hunting blind will be presented to Patriot Outfitters representative Jay Fondren at Troop 491’s Aug. 26 meeting. Fondren served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and lost both his legs and had injuries to his right arm. 

He also is an avid outdoorsman. 

“They have only had stationary blinds so this will be their first mobile blind,” said Rogers’ mom, Wendy. “This will give them the opportunity to go to different tracts across the state. They are excited and we are too.” 

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