Under a warm September sun, community members gathered Sunday afternoon at Jawbone Park for a moving dedication of the new Gold Star Mothers Rose Garden, a lasting tribute to families who have lost loved ones in military service.

The ceremony, held Sunday, Sept. 28, honored the profound sacrifice of Gold Star Mothers and their families, whose strength and resilience continue to inspire the Buckhannon-Upshur community.

The rose garden was made possible through collaboration between the City of Buckhannon’s Public Works Department, Buckhannon City Council, Buckhannon VFW Post 3663 and West Virginia Gold Star Mothers. What was once a simple flower bed at Jawbone Park has now been transformed into a place of remembrance, connected to the community’s Walk of Valor, also at Jawbone Park, a display of more than 800 banners honoring local veterans.

Mayor Robbie Skinner emphasized the project’s significance in his remarks.

“There are all kinds of events that our community puts on throughout the year, but this truly is one of the most special things we have been able to be a part of,” he said. “Each star etched into this tribute represents a son or daughter who gave their life in service to our nation, and behind each of those lives stands a mother whose world was forever changed.”

He addressed the Gold Star Mothers directly: “No words can ease your grief nor fully express our gratitude. But please know your children are remembered. Their bravery will be etched here forever in the hearts of a very grateful community and nation.”

Skinner also thanked Carey Wagner and the VFW Post 3663 Auxiliary for their leadership in organizing the project, along with city staff who landscaped, planted, and will maintain the rose bushes.

“This small memorial is so much more than just a piece of this beautiful park,” Skinner said. “It’s a promise that we, as a community, stand around you with our love, and to honor your sacrifice. Let this place be a sanctuary of remembrance and a place where future generations can come to learn not only about service, but about the enduring power of a mother’s love.”

The ceremony featured music by the Colton Elementary School Choir, whose voices lifted in tribute to the families honored.

As the roses take root in Jawbone Park, the Gold Star Mothers Rose Garden will remain a living memorial, one that reminds all who visit of the enduring cost of freedom and the unbreakable bond of a mother’s love.

The Buckhannon Community Band also participated, playing prelude and post-ceremony music, as well as the “Star-Spangled Banner.”