On a quiet corner of the Somerton United Methodist Church property, a once-forgotten monument has been lovingly restored—its flowerbed renewed, its purpose rekindled.

The stone marker, dedicated to the men from the Somerton neighborhood who served in uniform during World War II, is not a grave, but it stands as sacred space. Surrounded by a large flowerbed, the monument bears the names of those who left home to serve, many never to return the same.

In recent years, the site had fallen into neglect. But this spring, in honor of longtime Somerton UMC member Mr. Lester Penny, a WWII Marine Corps veteran of the 6th Division who turned 100 on May 24, 2025, the congregation came together in quiet but powerful witness.

With the support of the Somerton UMC family and the hands-on efforts of Harry Stymiest Sr., the flowerbed encircling the monument was replanted with a mix of perennial plants and shrubs. It’s a living tribute—not only to Mr. Penny, but to the full roster of names etched in stone, many of whom were known in the pews and on the streets of Somerton in years gone by.

On May 18, 2025, the monument was rededicated in a short service of prayer led by Rev. Thomas Daniel.

In many ways, this act of restoration is a Methodist act.

The United Methodist tradition calls us to “do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.” It places high value on remembrance—not only of our spiritual forebears, but of those who bore burdens on behalf of others. The rededication of the WWII monument is a small, sacred example of social holiness—the belief that our faith is not merely personal, but lived out in community, in visible care for places and people too easily forgotten.

Mr. Penny’s century of life is a testimony to service, endurance, and quiet faithfulness. That the congregation would mark this milestone by tending to a neglected patch of ground speaks volumes. It reflects the Methodist belief that grace can bloom again where things have once withered.

This flowerbed—now alive with color and care—stands as a visible reminder that remembering is not a passive act. It’s something we do. In the tending, the cleaning, the planting, and the prayer, the Somerton community has done what we are all called to do: honor those who came before, lift up those who are still with us, and make beauty in places that need it.

May it continue to bloom for many seasons to come.