SEPTEMBER 11^{TH MEMORIAL GARDEN}

On September 11, 2001, our nation was dealt a tremendous blow, resulting in monumental loss, the effects of which will be felt for quite some time...the loss of so very many precious human lives - of a magnitude few of us can even begin to comprehend; the loss of our sense of security and the loss of our confidence in the freedom that we, as Americans, have been blessed to take for granted. It was a time where great comfort was found in wrapping our arms around our children, thanking G-d for our health and safety, praying for the families of those directly involved, and for the leaders charged with the daunting task of defending all that is sacred to us as Americans. It was also a time when our children needed a way to express their fears and feel as though they have contributed something positive to situation that was not within their control.

On September 23, 2001 the Fort Garrison Elementary PTA (“PTA”) hosted a memorial garden planting. On that day more than one hundred children, parents, teachers and community members gathered in front of the school and created the September 11th Memorial Garden. A garden created to remember and honor the victims and the heroes of the September 11th tragedy.

In May 2002, the PTA hosted a spring refurbishing of the September 11th Memorial Garden in conjunction with the PTA Community Outreach Program. At that time the garden was extended to include plantings around the Fort Garrison Elementary Sign.

The Fort Garrison PTA thanks all those who lent a hand with the creation and maintenance of the gardens. The Fort Garrison PTA would like to give a warm round of applause to the following businesses for their generous donations of supplies, materials and/or plants and Through their support of this important project our memorial garden became a beautiful reality:

A& A Signs, Advance Landscaping, Franks Nursery,

Home Depot, John Siegel, Misty Valley Nursery, Paul Walsky,

Pikesville Hardware and Simonds Nursery.