28 Feb 2012

Garden dedicated to American Samoa tsunami victims

6:14 pm on 28 February 2012

A healing garden has been dedicated to the memory of the 11 American Samoa people who died in the 2009 tsunami.

The memorial is in the village of Leone, which had the highest number of fatalities in the disaster.

The garden is located on the Sa Poloa family land, where most of the victims were found.

Ipu Avegalio Lefiti, who spearheaded the garden, says it is a visual reminder of what can happen if people aren't prepared for disaster.

"Everything that was done to create this memorial was to bring about that sense of healing. And also to allow our people to grieve, for those who suppressed it for so long, it will be a place where they can sit, and just be embraced by the beauty of garden."

Ipu Avegalio Lefiti says the plants and flowers found at the garden are all local.

The artwork was done by Patrick Mafoe and the mural by artist Regina Meredith.