Veterans Garden
“A place of solemn beauty, the garden allows peaceful reflection and serves as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices veterans have made to preserve our freedom.”
Veterans Garden Memorial Donations Honor Roll
Arthur Wilhelm
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View January 2022 ArticleThe Veterans Garden is a beautiful, tiered garden overlooking Lake St. Clair, on the grounds of The Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. The garden is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Officially dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2012, the Veterans Garden began as a vision of concerned Garden Center members. Located on the site of the former Hillside Garden and in desperate need of an overhaul, Lynn Lutomski-Kiley and Mary Northcutt came up with the idea of a Veterans Garden in keeping with the War Memorial’s mission.
Their concept was presented to the Board of Trustees of the Garden Center and enthusiastically approved. A committee was formed to develop a garden design. Many meetings were held with the War Memorial staff and an initial plan was formed.
In 2009, Advanced Master Gardeners, Debbie Graffius and Alaine Bush, volunteered their services to help transform the Hillside Garden into the lovely Veterans Garden you see today. The Veterans Garden Committee was formed in 2011 by board member, Marieke Allen, to design, develop, and maintain the Veterans Garden.
Three memorial benches were donated to the garden, allowing visitors to sit and reflect while enjoying the view of the gardens, the American flag, and beautiful Lake St. Clair. A commemorative paver pathway was also installed in the spring of 2012, allowing loved ones to acknowledge and remember the sacrifices their servicemen and women made for our country.
The garden received the Michigan Award from Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. in 2015 for its ” Outstanding Contribution to Beautification.” In December 2018 the Veterans Garden became a certified Monarch Waystation, making it part of an international Monarch monitoring system. The Veterans Garden is listed on a worldwide Monarch Waystation Registry.
Financial support for the Veterans Garden is provided entirely through donations and engraved paver purchases. Help us safeguard this lasting tribute to our local U.S. military service men and women.
DonatePurchase a Commemorative Personalized Brick Paver – Available for a separate donation of $250 each.
To order, please see the Brick Pavers section on our Donate page.
Brick PaversWe welcome volunteers of all skill levels to help us maintain and continually improve this lovely garden proudly dedicated to our veterans. Please contact us if you would like to get involved in our gardening workdays. Here is a schedule of our 2024 workdays.
Contact Us“It is my earnest hope – indeed the hope of all mankind – that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world found upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.”
General Douglas MacArthur