Veterans Valor Groundbreaking for the HEALING GARDEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE;

MORRISTOWN, NJ – November 13, 2025 –

Facilitated by Veterans Valor, a non-profit dedicated to supporting veterans and the Morris County Park Commission (MCPC), many institutions of Morris County came together to break ground on The Gateway of the Veterans Valor Healing Garden at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

"The Gateway to the Gardens" is the first phase of a transformative, multi-year, seven-garden development designed as a sanctuary of remembrance, renewal, and recovery for veterans and the entire community.

The groundbreaking marked the public launch of "Disarm PTSD," a national campaign by Veterans Valor aimed at changing how the nation understands, treats, and supports those living with the after-effects of trauma.

A Monument to Healing and Hope

The ceremony brought together veterans, Morris County officials, community leaders and organizations, and dedicated volunteers to commemorate the official commencement of the project.

Will Draper, Executive Director of Veterans Valor, and President Elect of the Morristown Rotary Club emphasized

“Tonight, we begin something new together. Our gathering is called a groundbreaking, but at its heart it is a planting. We will now place a tree into this soil — as a community. Our simple act says what we’re here to do: to root new life where there has been hurt, and to create a space of healing that will grow over time, and, indeed, live longer than we do.

The Healing Garden is a Morris County project. It lives in the hands of our veterans, our first responders, our families, our civic and faith leaders, our students, our neighbors. This will become a place where stories are told and heard, where painful memories have somewhere to rest, and where hope and love can quietly return.

At the center of this effort is a shared commitment to Disarm PTSD — to face trauma honestly, to remove its sword where we can, and to surround those who carry it with beauty, respect, and community”

Morris County Commission representatives praised the collaboration, stating, “The County Commissioners are proud to work with the Park Commission and Veterans Valor to create a space that not only honors the service and sacrifice of our veterans but also provides a place for them to help cope with some of the challenges they face when they return home. This partnership underscores our commitment to those who have served.”

Joining in the birth of this project were representatives from diverse community partners including Morristown Rotary ( Margot Gomis), Morris County Board of Commissioners (Commissioner Stephen Shaw) , Morris County Park Commission ( Executive Dave Helmer), Atlantic Health( Dr Major Lydia Cristobal), Morristown Medical Center (Karen Zatorski and Marily Albanese), The Knights of Columbus Washington Council (Mike Bannon), American Legion (Captain Kelly Brown and Commander Jim Koons), VFW (Marine Veteran and artist Tom Miller), Fairleigh Dickinson University (Dr Martha Garcia), Parsippany Troy Hills PAL (Nick Bronzino), Rotary District 7475 (Governor Bob Law), Madison Rotary (Amul Modhera), TRAPA (U.S.Marines and Army veteran, Liz Meyers), Shop Morris (John and Gio DiDomenico) along with N.J. State Senator Tony Bucco, N.J. Assemblywoman, Aura Dunn, and Morris County Sheriff James Gannon. Shenandoah Ellis-Ulmer, head of the Veterans Resource Center at the County College of Morris was unable to attend for personal reasons, but CCM’s support is and has been vital to the overall effort.

The full Veterans Valor Healing Garden will ultimately consist of seven distinct themed gardens, each offering a unique setting for reflection, therapeutic programming, and community engagement.

“From Trauma to New Life”:

· Trauma

· Medevac

· Triage

· Homeward

· Recovery

· Fallen

· New Life

Project Details and Next Steps…

"The Gateway to the Gardens" will establish the main entry point to the overall Healing Garden site within the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This initial phase includes foundational infrastructure and landscaping to prepare for the subsequent themed gardens.

The project continues to gain momentum through robust collaboration among civic, veteran, and educational organizations, demonstrating a unified community effort to support those who served.

For more information about The Healing Garden, the Disarm PTSD campaign, and ways to support the project, please visit the Veterans Valor web site at www.VeteransValorNJ.com.

To keep up on the status and activities of Veterans Valor’s HEALING GARDEN follow on Facebook at …

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To help financially with this historic effort through donations, please go to …

Website, www.VeteransValorNJ.com

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