A very special veterans memorial garden was recently installed at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s (OCH&GS) headquarters located at the corner of Lincoln and Dryden Streets in downtown Hart. The new “Never Forget” Garden was a gift to the community from the Michigan Dunes Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) as one way for their organization to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
“The idea was originally presented by the DAR’s America 250 Committee, and chapter members were eager to participate. After exploring possible locations, chapter members felt the OCH&GS's Chadwick-Munger House would provide a meaningful and beautiful backdrop to honor and memorialize those who served our county,” Michigan Dunes NSDAR Regent Laurel Sawyer said.
The garden, one of hundreds across the United States, is part of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Never Forget Garden initiative that was first started in 2018 by the Society for the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the Tomb's Centennial in 2021.
Since that time, the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Never Forget Garden” initiative has encouraged communities to plant gardens as a visual representation of America’s commitment to the sacred duty of recognizing, remembering and honoring our veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country, especially those who are “missing” or “unknown."
“These gardens also serve as a reminder to all who have served that we will ‘never forget — I am in it with you,’” said Sawyer. “A special marker placed in the garden represents a mutual pledge to support our veterans with ‘our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor,’ words drawn from the Declaration of Independence and tied to America’s enduring responsibility to never forget.”
Not only is each flowering plant and shrub planted in the garden beautiful in its own right, but each carries a special meaning evoking remembrance, honor, and sacredness, Sawyer said. The backdrop to the garden plaque is the white rose, representing reverence, purity of remembrance, honor and enduring love. In the garden, it offers a peaceful and sacred reminder that the sacrifices of our veterans, known and unknown, will always be remembered.
Other flowers and shrubs chosen for the garden include boxwood symbolizing enduring memory; hydrangeas representing heartfelt emotion and gratitude; pink carnations remembering a mother’s love; peonies picturing honor and bravery; and lavender portraying devotion and trust, among many others.
The garden is designed to be a solemn place of remembrance, a site of renewal, and an inspiration for future generations to honor service. The Michigan Dunes NSDAR hopes that as this special garden grows, it will remind the community to honor the past and keep the memory of our veterans alive for generations to come.
The OCH&GS Board of Directors wishes to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Michigan Dunes NSDAR for selecting their headquarters as the location for this very special installation. “We invite the community to stop by any time to enjoy the new Never Forget garden located on the south side of the building. OCH&GS is fortunate to have three longstanding members, Sharon Hedinger, Nancy Rakosky and Joan Wegner, who are also longtime members of the Michigan Dunes DAR. Their involvement in both organizations adds a lot of value to our Society and to the entire community,” said OCH&GS Board President Paul Erickson.
To learn more about the activities and initiatives the Michigan Dunes NSDAR is involved in, or to inquire about membership, please visit www.dunes.michdar.net.
