Medford Plans Peace Garden To Honor Krystle Campbell
MEDFORD (CBS) - A little piece of her Medford hometown will soon be dedicated to the memory of 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, one of four people killed in the Boston Marathon bombings and their aftermath.
It's a design whose scope has overwhelmed her parents Bill and Patty Campbell. "We just thought it was nice to have a bench, but never in our wildest dreams did we think it would get this big," Patty Campbell tells WBZ-TV.
It's a fitting tribute to the larger than life personality of their daughter. The peace garden will have fountains at the centerpiece, a compass made up of plaques with Krystle's name, Martin Richard, Lingzi Lu, and Sean Collier.
There will also be mile-markers on the pavement honoring the marathon itself. It's all a living memorial to those whose lives were taken or impacted when two bombs exploded near the marathon finish line. "Everything has been so hard I think it will be a nice place to relax," said Bill Campbell.
Since Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn first introduced the idea one year ago, one million dollars has been raised for the design and execution. "It touched everybody because it could have been anyone of us. That's why I think a lot of people relate so much," said Patty Campbell.
Her parents say Medford was Krystle's world, but their world was shattered nearly two years ago. "I'm still having a hard time with it," said Bill Campbell. "The light of my life is gone."
The garden will be built on a now vacant lot near Medford City Hall, with a groundbreaking expected sometime in the spring.
A fundraiser will be held in Medford March 12 to raise money for the maintenance of the park. Contributions will also be accepted online at www.medfordma.org.