Lack Of Volunteers Puts Sand Springs Memorial Day Tradition To Rest

Rick Wells, News On 6

SAND SPRINGS, Oklahoma -- For 30 years or so a group of Oklahoma's Own in Sand Springs has re-purposed discarded artificial flowers into Memorial Day arrangements. That tradition is ending this year.

I spent some time with the ladies a few years ago, and when I heard they were quitting the project, I went back to find out why. 

Mary Ann Barclay is one of a dwindling number of volunteers who work on the Sand Springs Senior Center flower project. 

"This is a $40 one, and it has a saddle on it so you can put it on the headstone," said Earlene Jones.

Jones is the project director, and in case you hadn't guessed these ladies make cemetery flower arrangements for Memorial Day.

What's more, they are re-purposing old arrangements which would end up in a land fill. They clean them up and remake them and sell them prior to the holiday as a fundraiser.

"No matter what they can afford, they'll find it at our place," Jones said.

The ladies start with a new piece of Styrofoam. They take the old arrangement apart and re-do it.

Everyone has a specialty; Pauline Perry makes the big bows. She's been doing it for about 20 years. There was a gizmo on the table called an E-Z bow maker, but she doesn't use it. 

"I make 'em better this-a-way," Perry said.

They sell the arrangements at the annex but mostly at the Senior Center downtown. The proceeds are used to support Center activities.

Earlene told me in the early days of the project there were lots of volunteers working, and it wasn't so much a full time job. They just can't find new volunteers.

"The baby boomers aren't interested in this, but the next generation may be," she said.

This was an early recycling effort, very successful for three decades. She's hopeful someone will pick it up again someday.

The arrangements sell from $1 to $50. They can be found at the Senior Center in downtown Sand Springs or at the annex.

For more information, call 918-246-2567.