Memorial gardens provide solace to grieving families

I never had the honor of knowing Sgt. Marni Glista, but some day I hope to travel to her home state of Washington to visit her memorial garden.

Sgt. Glista was attacked by a serial killer in her Augusta home. She died nine years ago Wednesday. She was 21.

The saddest day of my life was the day my mother died. The second-worst came three months later as I watched the tears flow down the face of Sgt. Glista's mother as she testified about the sorrow and pain of losing a daughter.

As I've said before, gardening is good for the body and soul. Gloria Perius created a memorial garden for Sgt. Glista. It has helped her tremendously, I was happy to learn this week in an e-mail from her other daughter, Wendy Knopp.

"This garden was quite a lifesaver for my mom. I called it the best therapy she could get. She always liked working in the yard, but this gave her a purpose," Ms. Knopp wrote.

Many people find comfort in a memorial garden. We have several in Augusta. My buddy Sheila and I visited a few of them last weekend.

Kathy and Jack Goldenberg have created a garden at the Congregation Children of Israel in memory of their son Joshua Carl, who died Oct. 15, 2000. Now, the day-care children have a place to enjoy during play time, and members of the synagogue have a quiet place to contemplate.

The Paine family donated a statue in memory of Alice Paine. The beautiful statue of mother and child stands at the Old Medical College of Georgia.

There are more, and I hope people will write in with suggestions of other sites to visit.

GROUND ZERO

The condition of the grounds at the Old Medical College is disgraceful. It's weedy, plants are planted in wrong places and others are overgrown. For goodness' sake, even the grave at the site is overrun with grass and weeds.

Next door, the former Richmond County Museum grounds are not much better. A sight even more infuriating is the condition of the cupola that topped the old courthouse, which was built in 1820, according to reports in The Augusta Chronicle . The municipal building was built in the late 1950s, and the old courthouse was torn down.

Now, the Gnome doesn't need a reputation as a rebel rouser, but it seems to some of us that the cupola can be repaired and added to the top of the new courthouse being built at Ninth Street and Walton Way. Wouldn't that be cool?

And maybe we could name the courthouse for whoever built the former courthouse or came up with the idea of the cupola supporting the Lady Justice: Even better.

And while we're remembering those who came before us and put such hope and pride in our community, wouldn't it be nice to put the fabulous former museum building to good use?

Remembering and honoring those we have lost is what humans have always done. What better way is there than to create beauty in their memory?

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.

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