MCB Camp Pendleton

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After receiving the first Defense of Freedom Medal awarded by the Marine Corps, Todd R. Alexander shakes hands with Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, commanding general, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The Medal is the civilian equivalent of a Purple Heart.

Veteran's garden gets makeover;

30 Jun 2005 | Lance Cpl. Renee Krusemark Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A tribute to the men and women of the Marine Corps shouldn't be taken lightly. That's why Robert Warrick, and other members of the Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores Docent Organization, took it upon themselves to personally give the Camp Pendleton Veterans Memorial Garden a well-needed makeover.

The result of their work can be seen at the garden, which is located by the Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Club at South Mesa. The site is now a complete turnaround from its former self.

"It was a mess," said Warrick, remembering his first sight of the garden last year. "It was covered in weeds and wasn't being taken care of."

The Docents are an organization that supports the Camp Pendleton History and Museums department. Thanks to volunteering their time, and asking local businesses for donations, the docents turned the bleak memorial into an all-native Californian plant garden.

Constructed Aug. 21, 2003, the garden was in part maintained by the Boy Scouts of America with the Camp Pendleton community. However, as the scouts got older and moved on, the garden soon fell apart.

After seeing the garden's dismal state, the Docents restored the memorial using all-native plants that were donated from local businesses willing to help out a good cause.

One of these businesses was The Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano. Once the owners heard Warrick's plan for the garden, they were glad to help.

"With what our military is doing for us, it's our way of showing appreciation," said Jeff Bohn, vice president of the nursery.

Tree of Life donated more than $6,000 worth of native plants to Warrick, Monique Miller, a sales representative at the nursery, said. Employees also came to the garden site to provide their expertise in plant selection and placement.

"We plan to stay involved," said Bohn. "Planting was just the beginning."

The Docents honored the nursery with a plaque June 22 to express their appreciation for the nursery's ongoing support.

"There was no hesitation in them helping," said Warrick. "It surprised me how someone in a commercial business would be so willing to help."

Warrick also sought out other nurseries that would be willing to donate native plants. With equipment from the base, and Marines from the brig, mulch was brought into the site, and existing weeds were sprayed.

Warrick, a retired rancher and farmer who considers himself an environmentalist, continues to volunteer his time to tend to the garden. He knows it will be a "step-by-step process" to keep the garden looking good and remaining weed free.

After receiving the first Defense of Freedom Medal awarded by the Marine Corps, Todd R. Alexander shakes hands with Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, commanding general, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The Medal is the civilian equivalent of a Purple Heart.

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Veteran's garden gets makeover;

30 Jun 2005 | Lance Cpl. Renee Krusemark Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A tribute to the men and women of the Marine Corps shouldn't be taken lightly. That's why Robert Warrick, and other members of the Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores Docent Organization, took it upon themselves to personally give the Camp Pendleton Veterans Memorial Garden a well-needed makeover.

The result of their work can be seen at the garden, which is located by the Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Club at South Mesa. The site is now a complete turnaround from its former self.

"It was a mess," said Warrick, remembering his first sight of the garden last year. "It was covered in weeds and wasn't being taken care of."

The Docents are an organization that supports the Camp Pendleton History and Museums department. Thanks to volunteering their time, and asking local businesses for donations, the docents turned the bleak memorial into an all-native Californian plant garden.

Constructed Aug. 21, 2003, the garden was in part maintained by the Boy Scouts of America with the Camp Pendleton community. However, as the scouts got older and moved on, the garden soon fell apart.

After seeing the garden's dismal state, the Docents restored the memorial using all-native plants that were donated from local businesses willing to help out a good cause.

One of these businesses was The Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano. Once the owners heard Warrick's plan for the garden, they were glad to help.

"With what our military is doing for us, it's our way of showing appreciation," said Jeff Bohn, vice president of the nursery.

Tree of Life donated more than $6,000 worth of native plants to Warrick, Monique Miller, a sales representative at the nursery, said. Employees also came to the garden site to provide their expertise in plant selection and placement.

"We plan to stay involved," said Bohn. "Planting was just the beginning."

The Docents honored the nursery with a plaque June 22 to express their appreciation for the nursery's ongoing support.

"There was no hesitation in them helping," said Warrick. "It surprised me how someone in a commercial business would be so willing to help."

Warrick also sought out other nurseries that would be willing to donate native plants. With equipment from the base, and Marines from the brig, mulch was brought into the site, and existing weeds were sprayed.

Warrick, a retired rancher and farmer who considers himself an environmentalist, continues to volunteer his time to tend to the garden. He knows it will be a "step-by-step process" to keep the garden looking good and remaining weed free.