17
January/February 2018
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
A COMMUNITY TORN BY TRAGEDY
STARTS HEALING THROUGH GREEN SPACE
In a city full of concrete and casinos,
the people and city of Las Vegas
turned their energies to creating
a community healing garden, as a
memorial to those who lost their lives
in a tragic mass shooting in October.
Matt Haro, district manager of Davey's
Las Vegas Residential/Commercial
office, said when he first learned
about the project he wasn't sure if it
was something the office should get
involved with.
"It was a moral dilemma for me
because it seemed odd to be talking
about trees and planting a garden
when so many people had just lost
their lives and our community was
consumed by tragedy," Haro said.
"But then I talked about it with Kris
Amerson, our client experience
coordinator, and she explained that
people grieve in different ways and
if this is a way we can help the
community through this terrible time,
then we should do what we can.
So we did."
Haro and a crew from his office
volunteered for the following two days
at the memorial garden doing anything
that was needed. The vision of the
Above left: A total 59 trees were planted,
one for each of the shooting victims.
Top right: Positive messages are plentiful in
the garden to help with the healing process.
Above right: Davey fertilized the trees in the
garden to ensure they remain strong
and healthy.
garden was for 59 trees to be planted,
one for each individual who lost their
life that tragic evening at a concert
on the Las Vegas Strip.
The trees line a winding path through
the garden, and at the heart of it is
a grand oak tree surrounded by a
heart-shaped bench. Also in the
garden is a wall of remembrance for
visitors to leave a note.
The garden was completed in 48
hours. After all the trees were planted,
Haro sent a spray technician to the
site to fertilize the trees and help
them get off to a healthy start.
On Oct. 6, the Healing Garden, a
memorial in remembrance of those
who lost their lives in the Route 91
Mass Shooting, opened to the
community of Las Vegas.
"It was pretty amazing to see the
way the Las Vegas community came
together during this time," Haro said.
"Whether it was volunteering to work
on the garden, repeatedly standing in
long lines to donate blood, or donating
money, everyone wanted to help,
including our entire office."
In addition to the work on the Healing
Garden, the Davey Company donated
to a fund, which directly supported
funeral costs of those who lost their
lives in the Las Vegas tragedy and
health care expenses for those who
were severely injured.
