Darlene Carlson, Regent of the Chief Whatcom Chapter of the Washington State Society – Daughters of the American Revolution (WSSDAR), had a design and vision in mind for a “Gold Star Mothers Memorial Arbor” in January of 2020. Ben Brown (retired U. S. Navy) took Regent Carlson’s design and redrafted it to scale and size. The finished Arbor is 24 feet wide from pillar to pillar and 14 feet tall in the center of the Arch. Ben Brown worked on fabrication, and Ron Wilson and Larry Montgomery, retired U.S. Army veterans (and members of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter #165), worked alongside Ben and AVV #165 member Ken Carlson to help build the Arbor. Other Vietnam Veterans also helped and donated time and materials, and community business supported the project. Regent Carlson selected the medallions with the Veterans. The center two stars have 100 mini lights run by solar power and are a tribute to those who Sacrificed for our Nation and light up at night. This was a two year project delayed by Covid-19 and was scheduled to be installed May 2021, but was finally installed on April 23, 2022 at Green Acres Memorial Park with the dedication on May 29, 2022. A Revolutionary War Patriots America 250! marker was also dedicated by the WSSDAR, located is on one of the pillars of the Arbor.
