Emily's Victory Garden

My daughter Emily, age 13, has a dream.  She wants to create a "Victory Garden" in New Bethlehem PA.  She  has decided to do this project as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award.  She needed to come up with a project idea that would have a long sustaining impact on her community.  She chose the Victory Garden as a way to show military veterans and others that surviving each day is a victory.  You see, I live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Emily has witnessed me reach rock bottom and crawl my way back to "normal".  She remembers times where I wasn't making good choices.  She remembers me crying uncontrollably.  She remembers me thinking my family would be better off without me.  She's witnessed me sabotage friendships and isolate for days/weeks/months/years.  

Emily saw me start treatment at the VA, she was strong for me when I couldn't be strong for myself.  She's watched as I slowly started to be the mom she remembered.  She is watching as I'm healing.  She's witnessing me helping other veterans and she wants to help too.

Early on, Emily noticed I tend to do better and feel better when I'm surrounded by pretty things.  That's why she wants to make a "Victory Garden" she wants it to be pretty.  The bricks she has chosen will be red glittery bricks, the flowers red white and blue, the location right along Broad St (next to the Moose Lodge) where the beautification project is taking place.  The area has a clear view of the creek and most of the time an area the swans frequent.  Please help me, help my daughter, help other veterans.  

The Victory Garden is going to be a roughly 20'x30' cement patio with a raised flower bed in the center.  There will be 3 flag poles erect from the flowers, the PA state flag, the USA flag and the POW/MIA flag. Outlining the patio will be 5 benches, one for each branch of service with pedestals/statues in 3 corners the 4th being left open for easement.  She will also have a brick path outlining the flower bed. While the overall purpose of the garden is to honor military veterans, sponsorship is open to all. Bricks may be dedicated to individuals, businesses, police, firemen, EMS, or even pets.  Check out www.gsvictorygarden.org for more information.