Help us renovate our Patriot Garden: Honoring Heroes & Supporting Healing

Located at the Nash County, NC Arboretum.

Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Nash County is a 509 (a)(2) organization

We are renovating our Patriot Memorial Garden with a dual purpose: a space to honor and support the brave men and women who serve our country and communities as well as promote environmental education. This garden will not only stand as a living tribute to their sacrifices, but it will also serve as a peaceful retreat for healing, decompression, and promote community connections.

What We Are Building:

This redesigned garden will be a hub for education, relaxation, and awareness. The vision includes:

• A Veteran/First Responder Granite Monument: A central, meaningful structure to commemorate those who have served and continue to serve in our communities.

• A Shaded Pagoda with Trellis: A serene meeting spot for veterans, first responders, and families, offering a relaxing place to gather, reflect, and support one another.

• Diverse & Pollinator-Friendly Plants: We will plant a variety of native flowers, shrubs, and plants that not only create a vibrant garden but also help with biodiversity and pollination, supporting the local ecosystem.

• Handicap-Accessible Pathways: Cement pathways that will ensure all visitors, regardless of mobility challenges, can enjoy the beauty of the garden.

• Entry and Exit Arbor Archways: Beautiful, welcoming entrances that symbolize the courage and strength of our heroes.

• Information Board: This will include VA and healthcare resources, local community groups, supportive local activities, monthly facts, suicide and PTSD awareness, and a monthly hero biography.

• Relaxation & Gathering Spaces: Multiple benches and tables for gatherings, relaxation, and connecting with others in the community.

• Lighting & Accessibility Features: Proper lighting and a ramped sidewalk for easy access, ensuring the garden is safe and welcoming for all.

• Separate Apiary Area: A designated space for beekeeping, supporting pollinators and contributing to environmental awareness as well as a pollination for all local plants.

• Garden-based education- This area will provide education on local plants and animals as well as aiding in the promotion of environmental stewardship.

The Costs: We have estimated the following costs for the project, and we need your help to make this dream a reality:

• • Veteran/First Responder Granite Monument: $20,000 (current estimate)

• Roofed Pavilion 12ft x12ft $9,606

• Arbor Archway (x4): $1,680

• Shrubs and Flowers: $3,000

• Information Board: $2,131

• Recycled Plastic Trash Can $279

• Wheelchair Accessible Benches (x2) $1,898

• Paver Tile Pathway $1,700

• Apiary: $1,000

• Educational Signs: $12,150

Total Goal: $53,445

Why We Need Your Help:

Your donation will directly support the recreation of this Patriot Garden and all its key features.

The garden will:

• Honor those who serve: It will be a permanent space for reflection and remembrance for military (past and present), law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS.

• Promote mental health awareness: With a focus on PTSD and suicide awareness, the garden will be a place of healing, providing resources and spaces to support those who struggle with mental health as well as physical challenges.

• Build community: With events, gatherings, and shared moments of reflection, the garden will bring together individuals who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

• Support biodiversity: The pollinator-friendly plants and apiary will help protect our environment and encourage a thriving ecosystem.

How You Can Help:

Every donation, no matter the size, will help make this vision a reality. Whether it's funding a pathway, contributing to the monument, or helping with the apiary, every dollar counts. Your generosity will honor our heroes and provide a lasting legacy of support, healing, and community.

Please join us in making the Patriot Garden a place of healing, tribute, and connection for our nation's heroes. Together, we can create a space where our first responders, military, and their families can find peace, solace, and strength. This garden project will aid in reducing our carbon footprint, aid in pollination, increase biodiversity, and has an eco-conscious design.

Thank you for your support.