If you get excited over a dozen red roses, then you will be overwhelmed by the 148 crimson poinsettias that adorn the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chapel. To then realize each represents a veteran with local ties is truly moving.
On Nov. 30, members of the Heritage Garden Club of Durham decorated the chapel with poinsettias dedicated in memory of or in honor of veterans with local ties.
A number of years ago, District 9 of the Garden Club of North Carolina began a Garden Therapy Project for the Durham VA Medical Center Chapel. As a part of this project, different clubs in the district provide flowering potted plants for the chapel year round. The flowering plants brighten the chapel for services and bring joy to those who seek solace and sanctuary there.
Marcia Loudon, president of the Heritage Garden Club of Durham, presented her plan for honoring veterans to the Garden Club's District 9 director, Carol Krauser, at the district meeting.
Dutton Moore, chairman of the Heritage Garden Club's Ways and Means committee, developed a plan to advertise and sell the poinsettias throughout the Garden Club of North Carolina's District 9, which includes Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Granville, Orange, Person, Warren and Vance counties.
The 13 clubs of the Durham Council of Garden Clubs and Jean Gurtner, president of the council, supported the project whole-heartedly.
A recent memorial service at the Durham VA Medical Center chapel honored deceased veterans, victims of Fort Hood and those for whom the poinsettias were donated.
Cards designed by Marcia Loudon were printed and placed on each poinsettia naming the veteran honored. Profits from this project will be donated to the flower fund at the Durham VA Medical Center so that flowers may be placed on patient trays on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Decorating the chapel was a joyous event that put a smile on the faces of the patients and staff of the VA Medical Center as well as garden club members.
