NYA Hosts Community Planting Day

For Veterans Honor Garden

Gardeners and supporters of US Armed Forces joined together with shovels, rakes, and more on Saturday, May 5, behind the Newtown Youth Academy (NYA) to help put finishing touches on a Veterans Honor Garden.

Volunteers were invited to the facility for the day to help plant smaller plants, perennials, and annuals for the garden that will honor all branches of the military and those who have or are serving in US Armed Forces.

Just after 9 am, when the event began, a line of volunteers was already hard at work.

The garden is NYA founder Peter D’Amico’s concept, and is situated near the fountain behind NYA. As previously reported in The Bee, 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, that will be placed within a walkway around the fountain.

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, 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, or Kaki Taylor at ktaylor@scbinternational.com with questions or for additional information about purchasing a paver.

A dedication for the Veterans Honor Garden is set for Saturday, May 26, at NYA, 4 Primrose Street. The event is set to start at 11 am with a dedication ceremony. A roll call of Connecticut fallen heroes will be read during the dedication, and lunch and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Newtown VFW Post 308, the Second Company Governors Horse Guard, the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders, the Northern Fairfield County Blue Star Mothers, and Boy Scout Troop 370 are set to participate in the dedication ceremony.

Featured speakers for the dedication will be St Rose of Lima Church Reverend Monsignor Robert Weiss, Western Connecticut State University’s Dr Christopher Kukk, and Mr D’Amico.

Katie Cummings, a 2011 Newtown High School graduate, is set to lead those present in the national anthem.