Organizers invite all veterans and their families to join them for a dedication of the new Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Never Forget Garden.
The garden event is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church at 1100 Forest Hills Road NW in Wilson.
Adel Van Overbeke, of the Thomas Hadley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, led the effort to install the garden on a small plot adjacent to the church. “I first learned about the Never Forget Garden through the Daughters of the American Revolution in their magazine called American Spirit,” said Van Overbeke.
“They talked about the garden, which was first proposed around 2018 for the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
The garden has ceramic plaques that state that “This garden is a living tribute to all of America’s veterans and their families. In silence and respect, this is a place to remember why millions of Americans have fought and died for our liberty and out freedom. Here we renew our promise to fulfill America’s sacred duty to never forget. Here we renew our mutual pledge to support them with “Our Lives, our futures, and our sacred honor.”
The plaques are mounted on a solid brick foundation with a fountain, next to a flagpole for an American flag, with a bench where people can sit for reflection and a white rose.
Van Overbeke said similar gardens are all over the country
“It is quite inspirational,” Van Overbeke said.
Van Overbeke said she was inspired by the men and women from the beginning of the country that have sacrificed everything for our freedom.
“I just wanted to honor them as best I could. My father was in World War 2. Another uncle was in World War 1. They all came home,” Van Overbeke said. “It gives me goose bumps to think of what people went through.”
Van Overbeke’s husband, David Fulford, is a 28-year veteran of the Navy and Army.
“This is a community effort,” Van Overbeke said.
Van Overbeke said she wants as many people as she can reach to know the garden is at the church so people “can take advantage of the opportunity to have a place where they can come and think about their family, think about their country and think about all of the people who have sacrificed for us.”
Van Overbeke got help from church members.
Providence Funeral and Cremation Service bought the flag pole
“We donated the land and some of the veterans donated the brick,” said The Rev. Rob Schermerhorn, who is church pastor. “There is a brick fountain in the middle of the garden. Then there is a brick for the water barrel. All of these different entities have given time and money and effort.”
More things will be added to the garden as time goes on.
“We plan on having forsythia along the fence line to provide more privacy from the road,” Fulford said.
Veterans who meet at 9:45 a.m. on the second Friday or every month for the Veterans’ Coffee Group helped with the garden.
“You have got a bunch of guys and gals that are veterans. They get together and they can relate to each other,” Fulford said. “If I see a veteran, I give them a card and invite them to join us. We have a really good time. We have speakers. We have had different programs. We have had entertainment. It is just to get to know each other’s company. There are some people from all over our area. It is not just Wilson.”
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