MONTICELLO, NY — At the end of October, on a sunny Sunday, people came together to plant thousands of yellow daffodil bulbs for a Daffodil Project Memorial Garden in front of the Alder, Resorts World Catskills.

The day of service was organized by Hope’s Compass and sponsored by RW Gives. It adds a permanent memorial garden to Resorts World Catskills that will bloom each spring.

“Resorts World Catskills wants to be a place where meaningful moments for this community can take root, and we are proud to help make that possible through this planting,” said Meghan Taylor, senior vice president, government affairs and public relations, Resorts World. The Daffodil Project aspires to build a worldwide Living Holocaust Memorial by planting 1.5 million daffodils in memory of the 1.5 million children who died during the Holocaust, and in support of children suffering in the face of humanitarian crises in the world today. To date, more than 1.2 million daffodils have been planted around the world. This planting at Resorts World Catskills is the largest single planting this season, with 25,000 daffodils being planted. When the daffodils bloom with energy and beauty in the spring, they will remind us to remember the past and empower the future and to stand together to build peace, tolerance and understanding.

Andrea Videlefsky, president and founder of The Daffodil Project, said, “What makes Sullivan County’s Garden significant is not only its size, but the fact that an entire community chose to take part in carrying that promise forward.”

“This planting reflects a commitment Hope’s Compass has long held, that remembrance must be paired with action. This garden is a partnership bridge. Each bulb touched by our hands and placed in this soil as we walk, is a step from our past to our present and our future,” said Dr. Hope Blecher Croney, founder of Hope’s Compass. “As an educator, I believe history is best understood through experience and by placing these bulbs in the ground, our community is taking part in something far more lasting than a lesson in a classroom.”

The morning opened with an early visitor, Rep. Josh Riley. Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay, who represents the 100th Assembly District, came and before placing bulbs, she spoke with student volunteers from SUNY Sullivan who came with Jamie Brooks, the coordinator of student activities. 

“Few things matter more than making sure our children understand this history and carry its lessons forward,” said Kay. “This garden gives the 100th Assembly District a quiet, lasting place to honor that memory, and I am grateful to be part of bringing it here.”

Volunteers brought gardening gloves, planting tools and energy. Thanks to the site prep work done by Tony and the grounds crew at Resorts World Catskills, and the time and efforts by three dozen volunteers, thousands and thousands of bulbs were planted in four hours. 

The participants ranged in age from six to 76-plus years old. It was beautiful to see people meeting each other, placing bulbs side by side, while sharing stories and smiles.

The organizers look forward to welcoming the community back for an event when the garden blooms during spring 2027. At that time, the memorial marker will be revealed, along with some musical performances and artists on site. 

To keep informed, follow Hope’s Compass on Facebook and at www.HopesCompass.org

For more information on the Daffodil Project, visit www.daffodilproject.net.

To learn about historic preservation, visit www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org.