On September 11, 2017, a Day of Hope was celebrated in Moorhead by a Tree of Hope Ceremony in the Calhoun Park where the Southern Crosses the Yellow Dog Railroads.
During the ceremony, wooden painted stars with messages of Hope were placed in crape myrtle trees in the park as a tribute to the Yanky72 military who died near Moorhead.
Carlton Thornhill of Columbia and coordinator of Day of Hope selects only one city for the 9/11 remembrance.
Due to the magnitude of the Yanky72 tragedy, Moorhead was selected for the ceremony.
The Moorhead Garden Club along with Mayor George Holland coordinated this event.
Thornhill travels throughout the state and United States where tragedy or disaster strikes and hangs Stars of Hope in trees to aid in healing so that those affected by the tragedy will know that others care.The Moorhead Garden Club wanted to PASS IT FORWARD.
Paul Sheffield and Daniel Sheffield, husband and son of Moorhead Garden Club president Carla Sheffield cut the stars from plywood; and Garden Club members painted the stars and embellished them with messages of love and hope.
These will be mailed to Thornhill as he celebrates another Day of Hope in a community of his choice.
