Trees planted in park to honor organ donors
The Ashland Independent | Carrie Stambaugh
Loved ones of those who gave the gift of life in death gathered Saturday afternoon in Ashland’s Central Park to honor their memories with another gift of life.
Six trees, including flowering dogwoods, magnolias and a vibrant Japanese maple, were planted to commemorate the more than 30 organ, tissue and eye donors whose gifts originated from King’s Daughters Medical Center. The trees, purchased by the Gift of Life Awareness Group at KDMC and the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates and donated to the park through the city’s Plant a Tree program, were placed in a small grove between the old concession stand and the restrooms.
About thirty family members, medical workers and KODA officials gathered for the ceremony, which included a prayer of dedication given by chaplain Shane Cox, of KDMC.
“It was in the garden of Eden, Lord, that you planted both the tree of knowledge and of life. So may these trees today, be trees of life to all of the earth,†Cox said. “We pray, Lord, that the leaves will bring forth the life and breath that you give us, and we pray that their branches will be living space for those who climb among them or to the birds of the air that nest (in them). We pray that as we dedicate these trees, that every person that walks through this park ... that they will look upon it as the gift of life and renewing beauty.â€
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{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
Loved ones of those who gave the gift of life in death gathered Saturday afternoon in Ashland’s Central Park to honor their memories with another gift of life.
Six trees, including flowering dogwoods, magnolias and a vibrant Japanese maple, were planted to commemorate the more than 30 organ, tissue and eye donors whose gifts originated from King’s Daughters Medical Center. The trees, purchased by the Gift of Life Awareness Group at KDMC and the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates and donated to the park through the city’s Plant a Tree program, were placed in a small grove between the old concession stand and the restrooms.
About thirty family members, medical workers and KODA officials gathered for the ceremony, which included a prayer of dedication given by chaplain Shane Cox, of KDMC.
“It was in the garden of Eden, Lord, that you planted both the tree of knowledge and of life. So may these trees today, be trees of life to all of the earth,†Cox said. “We pray, Lord, that the leaves will bring forth the life and breath that you give us, and we pray that their branches will be living space for those who climb among them or to the birds of the air that nest (in them). We pray that as we dedicate these trees, that every person that walks through this park ... that they will look upon it as the gift of life and renewing beauty.â€
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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