CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Students at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center in Ross County have been working since 2017 on the Veterans Healing Garden at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. This year, they focused on a new youth garden to support veterans and their families by building two flowers and a butterfly outdoor musical instrument.
The idea was pitched by Sydney McGlone, a senior in the Precision Welding program, and quickly gained traction with other SkillsUSA chapter members. The project involved creating a 3D model of the instruments, writing code for a plasma cutter, welding, and painting. McGlone used scrap metal and donated paint to keep the project’s cost down to zero.
On March 28, the students successfully installed the outdoor drum set, flowers, and butterfly instruments in the youth garden. They also worked on a path leading to two handicap-accessible raised beds and weeded the garden areas. Their next goal is to find a corporate sponsor to donate their last instrument, an outdoor xylophone.
The Veterans Healing Garden aims to promote health, improve healing, and provide opportunities for families to connect with nature. The student’s dedication and hard work have contributed to the garden’s success and provided a peaceful and enjoyable space for veterans and their families to enjoy.
