A Setting for Reflection
The Inspiration
After my father passed when I was twelve, I went through a time in my life where I felt very alone. Because of this experience, I realized that no one can take away the pain that comes after losing someone, but that I could try and make it an easier journey to travel for others.
I started a grief support group at Wellwood Middle School when I was a freshman in high school. The group was, and still continues to be, about understanding grief, remembering, memorializing and creating a safety net; it's an almost family-like atmosphere where we remind each other that it's okay to be sad, to cry, to grieve, and talk about your feelings. But that it's also okay to be happy, too. Early on, a parent of one of the students at Wellwood suggested creating a memory garden. The idea of having a place where people could go to remember their loved ones, reflect and find comfort quickly became the driving force behind the project. In October of 2011 this vision finally became a reality and a special place where we could come together as a community and share a common bond of peace, was created.
I first met with the Village of Fayetteville Mayor and Board of Trustees and presented the Memory Garden concept to them. Once I got their support, I began working with volunteers and local contractors to build the garden adjacent to the Fayetteville Senior Center on Route 5 in Fayetteville. Finally, we established a not-for-profit organization with M&T Bank helping us establish the appropriate account for donations and raised the funds to make the project possibile. Over the years, Dalpos Architects & Integrators, Hueber Breuer Construction Co. Inc., O'Brien & Gere Engineering, , Allied, J&J Landscaping, Cross Creek Nursery, J.K. Tobin, Paragon Pavers and Byrnes Brothers have graciously volunteered their design & management services to help make & keep this garden a reality.
The Realization
The main feature of the garden is a pathway of bricks in the shape of a ribbon. In FMG's early stages this idea seemed appropriate to symbolize Cancer, but as the project designs developed over time the ribbon began to symbolize hope and courage, which is what the garden is all about: Courage to be able to continue through the hard times along with the Hope to find it in yourself to be able to reflect and know how strong you are. The takeaway message is that regardless of demographic, education, socioeconomic status or family structure, life is about using yourself to better another person's life in a way that wouldn't have happened if you didn't exist. It is about the giving and receiving of gifts from the heart. We have all experienced the feeling of loneliness whether it be from the death of a parent, a divorce, competition in school, or really anything at all. The point is, as individuals we have all experienced desperation. This garden was built to build community, allowing us to come together and remind each other that we do not have to fight these battles alone.
Brick pavers, benches, trees, lighting, pergolas, a landscape wall or a water feature can all be engraved in memory/honor of someone. This project has already begun to bring our community together and it is sure to do so for years to come. It serves as a physical reality of courage and gives us all an opportunity to walk down the pathway of bricks and take a moment to read the names, knowing that each brick has a story behind it.
