From War-Torn Nation to Land of Freedoms, One Man Celebrates With A Garden

Living more than 4,000 miles away from his native Yugoslavia hasn’t made Gjergj Haxhiu immune to the freedoms his new homeland.

On a daily basis Haxhiu, a special education teacher at , sees born-and-raised American students who may have forgotten the sacrifices offered by others to maintain those freedoms.

“I came from a nation that at the time was engulfed in a horrific civil war,” Haxhiu said. “When the 9/11 tragedy occurred it was very personal because it was this nation that has empowered me to believe in myself.

“I felt that I could finally soar and that nothing could stop me. I want my students to realize how lucky they are that by chance of nature they have been born in the greatest nation in the world, a nation that empowers us to believe in our potential.”

That belief led Haxhiu to inspire student to create a 9/11 Memorial Garden to remember those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, especially those who died serving the country.

Started in 2007, the garden, which contains a commissioned statue representing the three locations in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington that were struck, was formally dedicated on Sept. 11, 2009.

His unique perspective of fleeing a war-torn country for the United States two decades ago has resulted in a permanent memorial–and reminder—for Avon Lake's students and residents to cherish the freedoms this country provides.

Haxhiu has helped transform a once-empty courtyard at the high school into a garden and space for others enjoying our freedoms to pause, reflect and remember.

Haxhiu also hopes the garden will continue to inspire students not to take their freedoms for granted.

A growing garden

Two years after the garden’s dedication, it continues to grow, and its purpose expands.

“The Garden of Empowerment (9/11 Memorial Garden) started as an idea for an outdoor classroom and an area where students could congregate during off times to get away from the usual hub-bub of the school day,” Bob Scott said. “Simple enough, but…as with many of Gjergj’s ideas the Garden was a mustard seed. 

“Once it took root we have been astonished at not only what the physical garden has developed into, but what the garden has come to mean to the students and community as a symbol not only to remember the past, but to be actively involved in the future.”

Three plaques, honoring three , are on one of the courtyard's walls. An American flag that flew over Iraq during the war was added and two years ago a tree was planted to honor in a corner across from the roses honoring an Avon Lake graduate killed in Iraq in 2008.

On theHaxhiu organized a memorial ceremony that included nearly a dozen high school students, proving that Haxhiu’s legacy of empowerment and appreciation of his new homeland will continue on through generations.

“‘We Will Not Forget’ has become an inspiration to a generation of students,” Scott said. “Places like the Garden of Empowerment and Teachers like Gjergj Haxhiu will make sure that generations of students to come will continue to work for a better world.”