On two beautiful New York autumn mornings recently, camaraderie and caring described the scenes at Morningside Park and Campground in Fallsburg and the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello. Ranging in age from nine months to 80 plus years old, they came together. Some were in strollers, others with knee pads and a few walking with canes. They sat side by side on benches and in the tilled grass.

To borrow a phrase from the Bible (Deuteronomy 26:8), “With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,” these volunteers gathered to participate in the largest public planting of yellow daffodil bulbs in Sullivan County to date. They were joining the worldwide Daffodil Project, whose international mission is to plant 1.5 million yellow daffodils, each one representing a child who perished in the Holocaust.

In total, 9,000 yellow daffodil bulbs were planted over two days. “It was nice to see so many parts of the community come together for such a great cause,” volunteer Jeremy Levner said. Another volunteer, Harriet Dorfman, concurred: “The diverse greater community has embraced the project.”

The mission of these hand-planted gardens were literally set in stone. Jerry Klinger, founder of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation and presenter at various local Hadassah programs, donated the 9,000 bulbs and engraved plaques, set by volunteer Ray Croney on the boulders, which were donated by E. Tetz and Sons. These markers ensure that, in the months and years ahead, visitors to the gardens and those who pass by will learn of the rationale behind the planting of the beautiful blossoms.

It was affirming for me........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)