The Virginia War Memorial Public Green Space, Richmond
Submitted by The Boxwood Garden Club, The James River Garden Club, Three Chopt Garden Club, and The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton
Through the stories of those who served, The Virginia War Memorial honors Virginia’s fallen and preserves the past. In the process of helping veterans find their voice and collecting and telling their stories, the Memorial also educates and inspires for the future.
The Foundation supporting the Memorial is a 501(c)(3) organization, forming a remarkable public/private partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia. The five-acre property in downtown Richmond, on Belvidere at the Lee Bridge is barren. There is no shade. There are no native plantings or pollinators. Appropriate commemorative gardens are severely lacking.
Creation of a public green space closely aligns with GCV’s mission of promoting interest in conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation, and education. The project would be of interest to all Virginians.
The Memorial also is in keeping with GCV’s history of support for our military. During WWII, proceeds from fundraising, Historic Garden Week, and individual GCV members helped facilitate many war relief efforts, including “adopting” the village of Ver-sur-Mer in Normandy. GCV paid for the restoration of ten windows at the Church of St. Martin where there is now a plaque listing the names of sons of GCV members who lost their lives in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. There is a street named “Rue de Garden Club of Virginia.”
Pictured are Common Wealth Award Committee Chairman Becky Farrar (Martinsville), Former GCV President Cabell West (Tuckahoe), Former GCV President Missy Buckingham (Boxwood), Tuckahoe Garden Club President Kelly Armstrong, Boxwood Garden Club President Kay Taylor, and GCV President Debbie Lewis (Garden Study)
