Children’s Tribute

For the families we serve who have had a child die, we offer to place an individual garden ornament in our specially planted Butterfly Garden surrounding the patios at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Families choose between a Garden Dancer ornament in the shape of a boy or girl dancing with their names etched in the metal, or a beautiful Peace Pole with the child’s name and meaningful items painted on the side. These ornaments rest among the butterflies and the flowers for the family to visit whenever they wish.

Three times a year, we hold a special Children’s Tribute Ceremony for the families whose children are honored in the garden. Following the tribute, families are invited to take their child’s Garden Dancer or Peace Pole home as a keepsake. Because of the generous donations from the West Des Moines Kiwanis Club, these ornaments are gifted to the families free of charge.

The garden was originally dedicated on July 23, 2005, in memory of Alan Andrew Dean Miller, infant son of Holly and Ryan Miller. Holly is a Funeral Director and Co-Vice President at Hamilton’s as well as a third-generation family owner who started the program to give families a special place to honor the child they’ve lost.