Whitehurst Community Builds Memorial Garden for Fallen Marine

Members of the Whitehurst community in Severna Park have constructed a garden to honor fallen Marine Lance Cpl. William Taylor Wild IV.

Wild was killed in March during a training accident in Nevada. After his passing, the community decided they wanted to do something to honor Wild, but couldn’t decide exactly what to do.

“The board wanted to do something, and we couldn’t make up our minds as to what was appropriate,” said Bob Richhart, Whitehurst’s Grounds Chairman. “Betz [Wild] had mentioned to one of us that she would like a dogwood tree, and as soon as she said that—it was easy." 

Richhart said they got the tree and some flowers from Garry’s Gardens in Severna Park. Then, Richhart a few volunteers built the garden in the small park at the center of the Whitehurst community.

The flowers and dogwood tree are surrounded by chiseled cobblestone from the 1860s. Richhart’s son, who works for a company that restores old buildings, donated the cobblestone, which Richhart said really makes the garden stand out.

Richhart spent time in the Marines himself and said building the garden was extra special to him.

“I enjoyed so much doing that for him because the saying is, ‘once a Marine always a Marine.' And some people don’t pay much credence to that but it is a true fact,” Richhart said.