Is it possible for a garden to speak? Lauren’s Garden does. It tells a story of love and loss. It stands here in Houston’s Historic Market Square Park. This garden honors Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas. She and her unborn baby died on 9/11.
Lauren’s Garden is a gift to Houston. It comes from the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation. Lauren’s parents established it. They are Houston residents. Lauren was a Stratford High School graduate. Later she was a University of Texas student. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
The garden was dedicated on September 11 2010. It honors all those lost on 9/11. It especially remembers those on Flight 93. This flight crashed in Pennsylvania. The passengers fought back against the hijackers. They redirected the plane. It was likely headed for Washington DC.
Lauren’s Garden is a happy space. It is filled with light. Bright mosaic tiles decorate the area. Benches provide seating. Abundant crape myrtle trees add beauty. City skyscrapers surround the garden. Its sweet voice is the opposite of that terrible day. This contrast was Lauren’s family’s intention.
The centerpiece fountain is special. It has three granite walls. They represent the three crash sites. These are New York Washington DC and Pennsylvania. There are 40 large stones in the fountain. They represent those lost on United Flight 93. 2653 small pebbles are also there. They represent those lost at the World Trade Center. 194 larger pebbles stand for those lost at the Pentagon.
A bronze bust of Lauren surveys the park. It watches over the visitors. Artist Ketria Bastian Scott created organic poetry. These works also fill the space.
Visitors to Lauren’s Garden learn about Lauren. They are reminded of all the others lost on 9/11. She is sadly forever young in her garden. For Lauren and all the others we will never forget.
Lauren’s sister was also an Alpha Delta Pi. She helped create a memorial for Lauren. It is inside the sorority house in Austin. The memorial includes a picture of Lauren. It also shares the history of her sacrifice. The memorial hangs in a living area. There the girls study eat and socialize.
Some sorority members were born after 2001. All who join Alpha Delta Pi will know Lauren’s story. They will know she was an American hero. They will know how Flight 93 passengers changed American history.
Lauren lived in San Rafael California. She lived there with her husband. She was 38 when she died. There is another memorial for Lauren in California. Marin General Hospital named a birthing room after her. Lauren was three months pregnant at the time of the crash.
Lauren’s Garden is more than a memorial. It is a place of reflection. It is a place of community. It shows Houston’s commitment to green spaces. It reminds us of the importance of remembrance.