Veterans Honor Garden Taking Shape

By Kendra Bobowick

Loose soil and new trees hint at the work in progress to install the Veterans Honor Garden behind Newtown Youth Academy (NYA). Clipping the wired binding on burlap wrap covering native River Birch roots, LRM Inc employee John Fellin recently settled the trees in place on a slope overlooking a courtyard.

The garden — NYA founder Peter D’Amico’s concept — recognizes the efforts and dedication of men and women who have served and are currently serving in the US military.

“This Honor Garden offered in their memory is but a small token of our gratitude,” Mr D’Amico said. Since the tribute garden idea began, Mr D’Amico has promoted a campaign for residents to purchase brick pavers recognizing those in the service, past or present.

He watched as the River Birch planted by Mr Fellin reshaped the garden’s backdrop, then walked around the fountain to a stack of bricks that would soon form a ring around the fountain’s walkway. Each brick bore a name and dates. More will come.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308 Commander Dan Kearns and Senior Vice Commander James Rebman made a generous donation in late March to the Veterans Honor Garden. They presented a check for $1,000 to Mr D’Amico, who will have a paver engraved with the VFW’s insignia.

Mr D’Amico has also received two anonymous donations for pavers honoring the Blue Star Mothers and the Gold Star Mothers. Pavers for these groups also will be installed as part of the garden’s design. Mr D’Amico and garden coordinators expressed their gratitude for those supporting the garden.

In past weeks Mr D’Amico donated funds for pavers recognizing Connecticut’s servicemen and women killed in action since 1990.

“It is important to honor the men and women that have served in the US military and made the ultimate sacrifice. Their personal sacrifice allows Americans to enjoy the freedoms we have today,” he said.

Taking an engraved brick from the top of the pile, he moved toward a location where a flagpole will soon stand, and knelt on the stamped concrete. Circling a walkway around the 40-foot fountain is a shallow trench where the bricks will fit, and residents can walk slowly, reading the names.

The garden design has been coordinated by Brid Craddock of Heirloom Gardens, LLC. The construction and project implementation is being performed by Rob Manna, Jr, owner of LRM Inc.

Pavers are $100 each, for a four inch by eight inch stone with three lines. Applicants will be asked to supply the name of the person being honored, their branch of service, and the conflict they served or the dates in which they were active. Each line can have up to 16 characters.

Veterans do not need to be residents of Newtown, or even of Connecticut, according to the Brick Paver Order Form, in order to be honored in the garden.

To purchase a paver, visit www.NewtownYouthAcademy.org/veteran, print and fill out an order form or complete the order electronically. Contact NYA at 203-426-0088 extension 10 for additional information about purchasing a paver.

Contact Kaki Taylor at ktaylor@scbinternational.com with questions.

Community Planting Day

Those who want to lend a hand in finishing the project can participate in a community planting day May 5 beginning at 9 am at NYA. Bring gardening gloves, shovels, spades, rakes, or other necessary tools.

Coordinators welcome all local supporters of our US military members to join in planting the smaller plants, perennials and annuals to complete this garden project.

The Veterans Honor Garden will be dedicated on Saturday, May 26, between 11 am and 1 pm. Again, and questions can be directed to Kaki Taylor at ktaylor@scbinternational.com.