Rain on your wedding day is considered good luck.

Abbie Guardiani, spokesperson for the Panther Valley Blueprint Community, said that just like a wedding day, Thursday’s Nesquehoning VFW Memorial Garden dedication was getting a little luck for the future.

“Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies the washing away of anything bad,” she told the nearly three dozen people in attendance. “In effect, it gives you a completely new and fresh chapter in your life. These grounds have been given a new and fresh chapter in its life so if the saying has any semblance of being truth, then this project has had its share of rainy blessings. ... And although the rain has inconvenienced us here tonight, there are newly planted trees, flowers and plants that are enjoying it very much.”

Guardiani said that the new memorial garden area has been a project that is years in the making and is great to see it finally come to fruition.

The former grove, which sits at the far east end of Nesquehoning, has a long history in the community, being transformed from a town dump to an area where numerous picnics and Easter egg hunts were held before sitting idle until the revitalization began last year.

Guardiani said the group of people involved in making this happen worked tirelessly, highlighting a new native plant garden, pole building with flagpoles, statues of every branch of the military and first responders and a peace garden that aims to help veterans come and find calmness in a chaotic world.

The project was the result of a collaboration between the Nesquehoning VFW, Panther Valley Blueprint Community and Penn State Master Gardeners; but it also included help from various residents volunteering their time and money, the Panther Valley JROTC program and a number of businesses who helped clear the land, pour the concrete and create a space that was more than anyone ever could have imagined.

“The transformation of this site is incredible,” Guardiani said. “The revitalization of this land into a memorial site for veterans and first responders is something for the Nesquehoning Community and all of the Panther Valley to be proud of. Whether one enters or exits Nesquehoning on Route 209, you now see a beautiful space that breathes new life and pride into our community.”

Craig Strohl, Nesquehoning VFW Post commander, said that this project is a testament to the men and women of the community who serve this country and this town without looking for anything in return.

“This memorial stands as a symbol of respect and gratitude for the men and women who selflessly protected our freedom, our safety and our way of life, whether on a distant battlefield where many of us have been, or here in this town, in our neighborhood, where the police and firefighters and all first responders protect us,” he said. “They answered the called with courage and compassion and today we recognize them, not only in stone and steel, but in our hearts as we pass it on to our future generations.

“This day would not be possible without the incredible effort and support of many. ... I thank you. Your dedication has built more than a memorial. You have built a place of healing, reflection and unity. This site is not just a place to remember, it’s a place to come together. ... This is where our past meets our present.”

VFW Auxiliary President Paul Kattner also commented on the strong support this area gave to this project, from volunteering time to donating funds to help cover tree removal, “every single one of you made this near impossible project happen.”

The VFW Memorial Garden is still a work in progress but has been made possible through a number of grants — including a $74,000 Local Share Account grant and a $6,000 DEP Community Stewardship Grant — as well as fundraisers and through the help of individuals to provide both an educational space to learn about native plants and the important roles they serve, as well as a peaceful location to sit and reflect.