Seaside American Legion to plant a memorial

Published 4:00 pm Monday, January 18, 2010

SEASIDE – A memorial garden that would allow passersby to have a place to “reflect on their lives” is being proposed by the Seaside American Legion.

The city planning commission has approved the legion’s conditional-use request for the 19,200-square-foot garden west of the current legion building.

Preliminary plans call for a raised ceremonial platform in the center of the oblong garden. The platform will be used for the legion’s annual Memorial Day commemoration and other special events, said Lou Neubecker, legion commander.

Included in the garden would be a 25-foot labyrinth in the southeast corner and several seating areas connected by a 5-foot-wide winding path.

Also proposed for the garden is a columbarium that would act as a “final rest” for Legion families who cannot afford a cemetery burial, Neubecker said. Before the columbarium can be installed, approval by the state Mortuary and Cemetery Board is necessary.

If the Legion doesn’t receive approval, a memorial wall would be built where names of deceased legion members could be inscribed, he said.

Other features would include a pet memorial wall, containing the names of Legion members’ departed pets, a peace pole, an eternal flame and several distinctive gardens, including a “dry pond,” one with large rocks and another with lawn and picnic tables.

Logos of all of the armed forces would be included, as well as a wall listing the names of those who contributed to the garden and another “appreciation” wall.

Flowers, trees and bushes would enclose the gardens, along with several gates.

Neubecker said the idea for the garden came when the legion’s board members began considering how they could enhance the grounds. They met with local design consultant Tom Chatterton, who drew the plans.

It will cost between $300,000 and $500,000 to install the garden, Neubecker said. The Legion hopes to obtain most of the money from grants. Money may also come from fundraising events and donations, he said.

Once the funds are raised, it may take only three or four months to build the garden, Neubecker said.

“It’s going to be for the community, to reflect on their lives. It might be an anniversary of someone’s death. It could be a place where someone could meditate on all the good times when the person was alive.”