By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
We did lose residents in the World Trade Center attack, Ford said. The desire to have some sort of memorial for those residents in the City of Long Beach prompted Ford to think of a garden. A garden would be a nice gesture to try and remember.
The garden will be on the corner of Virginia Avenue and West Beech. Ford has been given the go-ahead for the garden by the City and already has two eager young volunteers to assist in the effort, Ellen Shouldis, a sixth grader, and ninth grader Angela Kielkowski.
I never tried gardening except for the third grade, Shouldis said. I grew flowers and some squirrel ate them. But it seems like something fun to do.
Kielkowski enjoys gardening with her dad and looks forward to starting the memorial project.
Shouldis said some ideas for the garden have been to have a type of flower for each resident lost and a plaque of all their names. At least four current residents and several former residents were among the Sept. 11 victims.
Ford, who lives by the garden, says that while this may be a small gesture, she hopes it will be a lasting one. Ford said suggestions for the garden are welcomed, as are volunteers. Planting should begin early next spring, she said. Anyone wishing to help can contact Ford through Project Challenge at 897-0534.
