Fairleigh Dickinson University has joined Veterans Valor as a partner on the Healing Garden taking shape at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.
The garden is designed as a journey through the phases of a wounded veteran’s experience, from the point of wound and medevac through new life, along with a tribute to those who did not make it home. The gateway and new life gardens are already funded, and the fallen garden is the current focus of fundraising.
“We want visitors, veterans and civilians alike, to take that journey and feel it, not just observe it,” said Will Draper, executive director of Veterans Valor.
One of FDU’s major contributions will be the Pathway to Peace Digital Spine, an interpretive layer developed by the university’s Center for Artificial Intelligence. Visitors will be able to access it from their smartphones and be guided by AI docents through the seven garden sections, pairing personal stories with plain language explanations of concepts like moral injury and post-service vigilance, plus information on local pathways for support.
“The garden will offer veterans and visitors a sense of calm and a sense of connection to nature,” said Martha Garcia, director of veterans services at FDU. “Our hope is that the garden will help veterans and families feel supported through tough times.”
Read the full story on FDU’s website: FDU Partners with Veterans Valor to Support Healing Garden at Frelinghuysen Arboretum.