His project focuses on building a greenhouse to support therapeutic gardening for veterans recovering from traumatic brain injuries and other forms of polytrauma.
SAN ANTONIO — An Eagle Scout is turning creativity into compassion this Fiesta season, designing a custom medal to support local veterans on their road to recovery.
Hunter Diaz-Reyna, a member of Troop 228, is using his 2026 Eagle Scout project to raise funds for a foundation and greenhouse benefiting the San Antonio Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program and Soldiers’ Angels.
“We’re military capital of the U.S., so honestly the fact that I’m able to help out soldiers at all, either active or coming back, it’s wonderful,” Diaz-Reyna said.
His project focuses on building a greenhouse to support therapeutic gardening for veterans recovering from traumatic brain injuries and other forms of polytrauma. While the program already maintains a garden, Texas weather can make it difficult to sustain plant growth year-round.
“They do have a garden, but the only problem is that we live in Texas, and it’s kind of hard to facilitate plants because of that,” he said. “So a greenhouse could really help them with being able to grow plants and eventually be planted outside.”
Diaz-Reyna comes from a family with a long history of military service, including relatives who served in the Army, Air Force and Navy — a legacy that continues to shape his commitment to helping others.
“There’s not a lot of programs that bridge acute care to when they discharge,” said his mother, Monica Diaz. “This program allows individuals with traumatic brain injuries or polytrauma to rehabilitate to almost where they were prior to the injury.”
To fund the project, Diaz-Reyna found inspiration in one of San Antonio’s most recognizable Fiesta traditions.
“It hit me — Battle of Flowers is coming up, and what is one of the biggest things that is done at Battle of Flowers? Fiesta medals,” he said. “So I was like, I can design a Fiesta medal real quick, get it sent out, and we could sell these for $10 a pop to fund my project.”
So far, Diaz-Reyna has raised about $1,200 through donations from family, friends and medal sales. He hopes to continue building momentum in the coming weeks to meet his fundraising goal.
The project is expected to be completed the weekend before Thanksgiving.
For Diaz-Reyna, the effort represents more than just an Eagle Scout requirement — it’s a continuation of a family tradition of service, reimagined for a new generation.
This Fiesta season, his medal isn’t just a celebration — it’s a symbol of service, sacrifice and a commitment to giving back to those who have given so much.
To learn more about Hunter’s project, follow his journey here.
To purchase a medal, click here.
You can reach Hunter and his mother Monica Diaz here: hunterseaglescoutproject@gmail.com & monicaestelladiaz@gmail.com.