Three Picayune Memorial High School students donated a morning during their spring break to help brighten up the school’s courtyard.
The work took place at the school’s memorial garden, which was established by the class of 2006, said Maj. Chad Dorn with the Picayune Police Department.
Long term, the plan is to add a memorial to the garden honoring the late Bryan Goetzmann, Dorn said.
Caroline Whitfield said when Dorn called her and two of her classmates to see if they’d be interested in helping with the project to honor Goetzmann, they were excited to help.
“Once he mentioned that, we were all on board,” Whitfield said.
Whitfield was joined by fellow students Rylee Dawsey and Abby Montgomery, along with four employees from the city of Picayune, Dorn said.
The work took place on March 22, during the school’s spring break to allow the team time and space to get it done quickly and avoid disturbing class. Dorn said the team put in about four hours of work, which involved removing some old plants, adding fresh soil, planting new plants and adding fresh mulch.
Supplies to conduct the improvement project were donated by the city of Picayune and Home Depot, Dorn said.
The city donated the dirt, mulch and additional manpower. Dorn said some additional flowers are currently being grown at the city’s greenhouse, and they will be planted in the memorial garden sometime next month.
A rose bush that was in the garden was moved to another area on the campus, Dorn said.
The work was a way to remember Goetzmann, who left an impression on everyone at the school, Montgomery said.
Dorn said the long-term plan is to commission someone who can laser etch the likeness of Goetzmann onto a piece of granite, which would be displayed in the garden.