| Pleasant Hill CA |  |
Twin Towers
Memorial Park |
|
Botanical Garden |
| M
M
M
JM |
 |
Memorial garden, a living tribute.
Pleasant Hill man creates beauty, life,
to commemorate Sept. 11.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Record,
Contra Costa Times
Posted on Wed, Sep. 11, 2002
Memorial garden a living tribute
Pleasant Hill man creates beauty, life, to commemorate Sept. 11.
By Brandy Underwood
STAFF WRITER
PLEASANT HILL -
Bill Richmond wanted to do something to remember the Sept. 11 victims.
He wanted to keep their memory alive and he wanted to do whatever he could.
The man who grew up on an Oregon farm did what he does best -- he planted a garden.
"I was raised on a farm, so I know how to grow vegetables," he said, one afternoon as he tended to the garden in Pleasant Hill.
Richmond, 68, planted the 400-foot garden, full of wildflowers and small trees, in April on a plot of land on Camelback Road, just behind his condominium.
It's a simple garden, grown mostly from seeds and donated plants. The feeling behind this "labor of love," as he called it, is as strong as the oak tree that grows near the creek running through the back of the garden.
"Everyone from the whole neighborhood and community has pulled through and helped me with this," he said. "Any money they give, I just match it."
"Twin Towers Memorial Park" reads a sign that hangs from a wooden post greeting neighborhood visitors as they stroll on an adjacent sidewalk. Richmond said there used to be a oil painting he made there too, which featured the twin towers, but someone took it.
In the future, there will be a sign reading, "This garden is in memory of those unfortunate people who suffered in the terrorism attacks of 9/11/01." It was donated by a local businesswoman.
Richmond stood in the garden on Thursday afternoon and used his hoe to uproot any weeds. The afternoon sun was uncomfortably hot and Richmond wore a wide-brimmed straw hat to stay as cool as possible. He has to tend the garden every day, making sure it is watered so the sun doesn't dry out the delicate annual flowers.
He pointed to patches of ground cover and said he hopes the plants will fill in the empty spaces that will come when the other seasonal plants die out.
"I have a 12-year plan," he said.
Richmond has planted fruit and mimosa trees. He has also planted small pine saplings that he plans to cut down in the years to come and give to neighborhood children during the Christmas season.
"I've got the support of the neighborhood and the people. I feel good doing it," Richmond said.
He said the plot of land that is now a flower garden was nothing but weeds, "a place for people to bring their dogs. I felt it should be pretty for the neighborhood."
Richmond went through city channels to get permission to create a garden on the land.
"I said just give me permission. Don't try to take over when I get started, I'm going to contribute my time and money to do this thing," he said.
"It's been a really nice thing, a labor of love," he said. "People wave and say thumbs up. It's coming along and it will be better every year."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reach Brandy Underwood at 925-682-6440, ext. 26 or e-mail bunderwood@cctimes.com.
© 2001 cctimes and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.bayarea.com
If you are interested in helping Bill,
contact him at this Email Address:
If you find his efforts worthwhile,
please help support Bill with your generous contribution
to help maintain the Garden
 |
 |
before
after
|
Page 1 One Mans vibrant statement that life goes on.. by KAREN HERSHENSON
Page 2 Memorial garden a living tribute Pleasant Hill man creates beauty, life, to commemorate Sept. 11. By Brandy Underwood
|
||||
Page 3 Paying homage comes naturally by KAREN HERSHENSON
|
||||
The Proclamation Page
The City of Pleasant Hill CA, honoring a resident whose dedication and efforts have made a difference in our community and nation that will continue to commemorate September 11, 2001. Dated: October 21, 2002
|
||||
The Monument Placed by the city of Pleasant Hill,Calif. March 31st, 2003
Dedication for the park. 5/05/03
|
||||
The Garden
Thank You
|
please help support Bill with your generous contribution
to help maintain the Garden
 MESSAGES
|
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new
session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting
the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
> > > >
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your
forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil
good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have
lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
> > > >
We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth
of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
> > > >
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
> > > >
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
> > > >
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
> > > >
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
> > > >
We have neglected to discipline our children and
called it building self-esteem.
> > > >
We have abused power and called it politics.
> > > >
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called
> > > > it ambition.
> > > >
We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.
> > > >
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our
forefathers and called it enlightenment.
> > > >
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse
us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless
these men and women who have been sent to direct us to
the center of Your will and to openly ask these things
in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus
Christ. Amen!"
> > > >
