In Nashville's Centennial Park, a corner is dedicated not to celebration, but to remembrance. A structure resembling a lighthouse stands there, marking the Children's Memory Garden, which now honors over 250 young people whose lives were cruelly taken by violence. The lighthouse features limestone plaques bearing the names of these children, all victims from Davidson County. WKRN reports a new dimension has been added to this somber memorial: a QR code that, when scanned, reveals the personal stories behind each name.
Andra Conte, founder of the nonprofit You Have the Power, emphasized the tragic underpinning of the garden by saying in a statement obtained by WKRN, "Right now, in the garden, we have over 250 children. These are all under the age of 17 and as young as 2 or 3 weeks." With the incorporation of technology, the memory garden becomes more interactive, offering visitors a chance to engage deeply with the children's narratives.
The QR codes are a new addition to this memorial space, which has been part of the community since 1996. The former First Lady of Tennessee, Andrea Conte, was among those who established the original garden, and she continues to bear witness to its grief-laden expansion. Conte told NewsChannel 5, “It was remarkable, because there were 36 children remembered when it opened. But over the years, more children died; more children died.” Irma Paz-Bernstein, board chair of You Have The Power, spoke about the transformative effect of storytelling: “The hope is that as people walk through the park with their phones in hand, they can engage with the stories behind the names.”
Tomorrow, You Have The Power will participate in a "Walk The Talk" event, as noted by NewsChannel 5. This gathering invites the community to honor these children through both remembrance and contributions toward initiatives such as gun safety and substance abuse prevention. The event begins at 9:00 A.M. at the Children's Memory Garden.
