The National Donor Memorial in Richmond, Virginia is a living celebration of the gift of life and the remarkable individuals it honors. The design for the 10,000-square-foot Memorial Garden includes three metaphorical rooms. These rooms represent an emotional journey that takes place during the organ donation and transplantation process. It's a journey of hope, renewal, and transformation. |
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Hope: The Wall of Tears & Water GardenEntering the Memorial Garden, visitors will see the Wall of Tears. Words such as "mother," "father," "sister," and "brother" will project outwards from the stone wall. A slow stream of water will cascade over the words, representing the tears of loss and joy that are experienced in donation and transplantation. As donor families pause, they can reflect on their grief and the loss of their loved one. Recipients can reflect on the magnitude of the gift they received. |
Next, visitors will enter the deepest of the three rooms--the Water Garden. Here, a solemn 11-foot wall runs the length of the room. Sandblasted onto this concrete wall will be first names of organ donors. Water will flow through the Gift of Life fountain, a sculptural representation of two "open hands" cupped together, offering water as a metaphor for the "Gift of Life." |
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Renewal: The Butterfly LawnClimbing up the ramp, visitors will enter the Butterfly Lawn, a room of light, openness, and celebration. Here, layers of plantings known to attract butterflies will mark the edge of the lawn. An important element of this memorial, butterflies symbolize the renewal and rebirth of organ donation and transplantation. From here, visitors can cross into the UNOS lobby entrance and visit the kiosk housing the online tributes collection. |
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Transformation: Memorial GroveHolly trees in a simple garden setting will make up this third and final room. The water flowing through this room eventually forms the waterfall over the Gift of Life fountain in the garden below. The water's journey symbolizes the personal journey of organ donation and transplantation, one of hope, renewal, and transformation. The source of this flow will be found deep within the grove. As a single drop of water gently falls into a simple bowl, the ripples symbolize the selfless act of organ donation and its far-reaching effects. |
At the memorial site, a pathway will lead visitors from the Memorial Garden into the UNOS headquarters lobby, to an interactive computer kiosk. There, they can locate tributes and pictures of their loved ones. Projected pictures of America's heroes—organ and tissue donors—will be continually displayed in a dramatic presentation of the faces of organ donation and transplantation. These tributes will thank, honor, and celebrate organ donors. |
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Learn more about how you can create and add a tribute to the National
Donor Memorial Online Tributes Collection |
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