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Adding Memorials
to Your Landscape
The death of John Kennedy, Jr. has plagued
the minds of many these last few days. I have watched the television today
as they searched for the bodies of the victims. It brought back grim memories
of the assassination of John's father. I was only six years old in 1963.
I was sitting in the first grade when the announcement came over the loud
speaker in our classroom. I didn't understand everything then, but when I
got home and saw my Mother weeping I realized that this was something awful,
because my Mother never cried.

Woman places flowers at the apartment
of the late JFK, Photo courtesy of AP |
This past weekend, when I learned of
the plane crash, of John Kennedy, Jr. it really didn't register. I ignored
it - it wasn't real. Then when I opened my door to see the headlines of our
morning paper, I realized that it was real. Today, I turned on my TV to witness
the finding of the victims. As with many deaths of very famous or well-known
people, I also witnessed the giving of memorials in the form of flowers and
notes, and teddy bears, and such. It was at that moment that this column
was born - add a memorial to your landscape.
Can you walk through your garden and have memories of the people you love,
or of people you knew, or of people you want to remember, or even people
that you never met, or shook hands with, or walked with? A beautiful yard
can flourish with memories. As you walk with others through your yard you
can say, "Oh, my Mom planted that tree in memory of my father," or, "My best
friend bought me that plant," or "I planted that shrub in memory of JFK,
Jr."
Planting a garden is a great way to remember. I remember when I was about
30, one day my Mom called me and said, "Come see what I did." When I got
to the house she had planted three new dogwoods. She was so excited as we
walked through the yard. She said, "I planted this one in memory of your
father, this one is for you, and this one is for me, so that when their beauty
blossoms in the spring, I will always remember our family, and how special
we are."
Many of us are too far away to add to the mountain of flowers that are being
presented at the various places for JFK, Jr. But we can add just one rose
bush, or one shrub, or one tree to our garden in his memory, or the memory
of our loved ones or friends. Build a garden that tells a story. Build a
garden of remembrance.
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