Daughters of the American Revolution Dedicate 'Never Forget Garden'

Daughters of the American Revolution Dedicate "Never Forget Garden" in Riverfront Park to Honor Veterans

A dedication ceremony will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 3 P.M.

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Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 12:37 p.m.

SPOKANE - The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - Jonas Babcock Chapter recently planted 25 cherry trees and established a new Never Forget Garden in Riverfront Park to celebrate America's 250th anniversary and honor veterans.

An official dedication will take place on Friday, September 25, at 3 P.M. The event will feature remarks from the DAR President General, Ginnie Sebastian Storage. Free shuttle service will be provided from Riverfront Park's Washington St. parking lot to the dedication site, near the park's existing Vietnam Veterans Memorial above the Washington Street land bridge.

The Never Forget Garden, done locally in collaboration with the Spokane #1 Sons of the American Revolution, is part of a nationwide initiative to create gardens as lasting symbols of gratitude and remembrance for veterans and service members. This effort is meant to reflect our nation's enduring commitment to honoring their service and preserving their legacy for future generations. The new garden features 334 plants that will bloom in red, white, and blue.

The DAR also planted 25 Kwanza cherry trees, representing one tree for each decade. Fifteen of these trees are located alongside the new Never Forget Garden, and ten are planted in the Red Wagon Meadow, repurposing two flower beds from Expo '74.

"My DAR New Horizon Capstone project started with a vision to plant 25 cherry trees to commemorate America 250, but this project has overwhelmingly surpassed my original vision," said Anne Oakes, project lead. "Earlier this year when touring the area with Spokane Park Board member Gerry Sperling, the plan expanded to include a Never Forget Garden next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Working with the Riverfront Park community and Home Depot's Team Depot, we are proud to establish a sacred space of gratitude and reflection in the heart of Spokane. It has been an amazing relationship working alongside both organizations to bring this vision to life. I'm sure the community will appreciate this new addition to Riverfront Park especially this coming spring when these cherry trees bloom."

"This garden stands as a heartfelt tribute to our brave veterans and service members," said Garrett Jones, director, City of Spokane Parks & Recreation. "We're grateful to the Daughters of the American Revolution for their vision and commitment to bringing this beautiful space to life alongside local and national partners."

The project was generously funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution - Jonas Babcock Chapter, The Home Depot Foundation, Gerry and Bill Sperling, Spokane Parks Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture.

About City of Spokane Parks & Recreation

City of Spokane Parks and Recreation stewards nearly 120 properties across 4,000 acres of park land, including manicured parks, natural lands, aquatic centers, golf courses, sports complexes, and an arboretum. We also offer hundreds of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities to improve the health and quality of life for our community. Enjoy all your city has to offer by visiting spokaneparks.org. Follow us @SpokaneParks on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

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