During this season of good cheer, good deeds and generosity, we like to feature folks in our area who give their time, talents, energy and resources to those in need. Our community is undoubtedly filled with generous people who expect nothing in return other than knowing they make a difference in someone’s life.
Our Marple Civic Youth (MCY) has proven time and time again that teens have the power to make a difference. Not only do they organize numerous successful community events, they learn valuable skills in the process. Most recently, this group of dedicated volunteers created, implemented and dedicated a beautiful Children’s Memorial Rose Garden, located at Veterans Memorial Park, and the Adult Legacy Tree Project—leaving a lasting mark on our community.
The project was the vision of Rachel D’Ambrosio, who serves as MCY’s Vice President. Rachel also took on the role of the group’s President of the Sustainability Committee, and her com- mitment to sustainability allowed her to think about ways to support not only our environment but our relationships within the community.
Rachel’s mom, Demetra, is one of MCY’s parent advisors and explained how the idea for the garden came to be. “It began last February when our community was coming together to support the Petransky family after the sudden passing of their little boy, Benny,” she said. “The town was going Blue for Benny, which sparked a conversation about how amazing it is that our friends and neighbors always show such strong support for families that have suffered losses.”
It also led Rachel to start thinking about how to come up with a project that could combine tangible sustainability practices while fostering a lasting legacy of community connection. “My vision for the Children’s Rose Garden was to create a dedicated space for families to honor and remember their child,” Rachel explained. “I wanted it to be a positive place where we could gather to remember our loved ones and celebrate them by continuing to say their names.”
With the plan in place, MCY’s Sustainable Committee got to work. There were meetings with township officials to select the location, develop and submit building plans and secure approvals and permits. The committee then had to raise enough funds to build the garden and continue to work on plans to secure funds for future improvements, repairs and maintenance. They asked community members and local businesses for donations of time and money, which was well received.
“We have a lot of folks to thank for their generosity,” Demetra noted. “Marple Township donated their labor to build the garden’s wooden frame and bridge, Home Depot donated the lumber and Martino Signs donated the wooden sign at the entrance and the plaques for each child.” MCY also received generous donations from Luciano’s Light Foundation, Matthew’s Moonlight Foundation and many families and businesses that wanted to show their support.
The response from the community was overwhelming, not just from generous donors but from families who requested their loved one be included. “We had always intended for the garden to memorialize children, so we had to come up with another plan for the families who wanted their adult loved ones remembered,” Rachel said. “We decided to expand our sustainability initiative beyond Marple Newtown by purchasing legacy trees that are planted in our national forests.” Each family that has a tree planted in their loved one’s memory receives a keepsake certificate.
The garden was completed this past fall, and a remembrance ceremony was held on October 20th. It was a beautiful day when families and friends gathered to honor those we’ve lost and to offer comfort, hope and healing to grieving families. The program included words of remembrance from family members, meaningful music and songs, a memorial photo wall and a balloon release.
The O’Malley family was there to remember their Sweet Melissa, who passed away in April. “To be honest, as the day of the dedication was approaching, I was feeling hesitant,” explained Melissa’s mom, Missy. “However, the day was perfect, and the garden is in the most beautiful spot in Veterans Park. As I watched these kids who organized the garden and this ceremony, my hesitation changed into an amazing sense of hope. These kids were in it with us. They had tears. They empathized. We were all connected in that moment.” Missy added that being in Veterans Park was so perfect because many of the children being remembered grew up playing there. “Their laughter lived there, and now we have a space for all to remember them,” she said. “I can’t help but believe that the goodness in our children was reflected back to us that day in such a giving way. We are grateful.”
Tara Gallo’s son, Lucas has a memorial plaque in the garden. “When I saw the Children’s Memorial Garden project being posted about back in the summer, it felt like fate. This year marks 10 years since we lost our son Lucas, and I had been looking for a way to honor him,” she said. “The MCY group thought of everything—the plaque, the quotes, the ceremony—it was all a beautiful tribute to our children.” Tara and her husband, Mike, said that one of the hardest parts of Lucas being stillborn is the isolation, feeling like you are the only ones who knew your child. This memorial garden was a way for this group of young people to honor their son and know that their family was not alone. “This park is where my family and other children, Lucas’s brother and sister, feel connected,” Tara added. “I am profoundly grateful to this group for giving us this opportunity to remember and honor Lucas.”
Melissa Shelly lost her son, Andrew in August 2017. She and her family attended the ceremony as well. “When any parent loses their child, one of our greatest fears is that people will forget about our son or daughter,” she explained. “As the years go by, people stop saying their names and avoid bring- ing them up, thinking it will cause us pain. It is exactly the opposite; we want to hear their names and share memories of our children.” Melissa
feels that having this memorial garden in our community is such a gift because when people gather in the playground, walk the track or relax by the gazebo, they can enjoy this beautiful garden and see the children’s names. “I am so grateful that these young adults from the Marple Civic Youth Association took their time and energy to honor my son, Andrew, and all of the other local family’s children.”
A Holiday Service was held on the afternoon of December 22nd. It was open to Marple Newtown residents, and all were invited to participate by sharing the names of their loved ones so they could be honored during the service. The MCY members put up a beautiful tree in the garden, complete with ornaments provided by the committee.
Thank you, Marple Civic Youth, for this beautiful rose garden and for your steadfast commitment to honoring our loved ones for many years to come. May they never be forgotten, and may we always say their names. For more information on volunteering with Marple Civic Youth, reach out by directly messaging the Civic Youth on Instagram (@MarpleCivicYouth) and Facebook.