Volunteers restore monuments to honor veterans on Memorial Day

A group of volunteers in Nephi, Utah, came together to clean and honor community monuments in preparation for Memorial Day. On a bright spring morning before the holiday, a dedicated team sacrificed part of their Saturday to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Jeremy Hernandez, one of the volunteers, shared, “These individuals are our heroes, and it’s essential that we display their memory with pride and honor. We must ensure they are never forgotten.”

Armed with sponges, paint, scrubbers, and other cleaning supplies, the volunteers worked tirelessly to revamp and refurbish the memorials dedicated to those who served our nation.

Terina Mickey, who organized the project, expressed her hopes, stating, “I trust that the community will take pride in these efforts, and I desire that the veterans who bravely served in the past receive the respect they rightfully deserve.”

What began as a simple visit to the veterans memorial last year with her boyfriend turned into a passion project for Mickey. She recounted, “Upon seeing that his dad and grandpa’s names were barely visible on the memorial, covered in hard water stains, I decided to repaint their names.”

Mickey’s initiative expanded to restoring all names on the various monuments and benches. With approval from the local Lions Club overseeing the monuments, she mobilized friends to join the cause.

Tragically, as the project gained momentum, Mickey’s boyfriend’s health deteriorated and eventually he passed away last fall due to complications from his struggles with addiction. While dealing with his loss and continuing the project, Mickey founded a nonprofit called One Day at a Time Services to support individuals battling addiction and facing legal challenges.

One of the beneficiaries, Crysti Vincent, commended Mickey’s organization, stating, “After getting involved with her organization and graduating from recovery court, I am in a much better place mentally and emotionally.”

As a former Air Force veteran, Mickey described this endeavor as the most rewarding mission of her life, having restored over 2,700 names on the memorial.

Despite working as a long-haul truck driver for more than 100 hours a week, Mickey dedicates her spare time to this meaningful cause. With the generous support of volunteers and donors who contributed cleaning materials, the monuments now shine brightly, inspiring Mickey to continue her mission.

This article was originally published by Scott McKane for Scripps News Salt Lake City.