On September 11, 2001, John Perry, NYPD officer and NY State Guard first lieutenant, gave his life in an attempt to rescue those still trapped in the Twin Towers. Although his act of courage is honored publicly each year on this day, his sacrifice also has a perpetual and growing memorial in the form of a beautiful, private Japanese garden tucked away on his family’s property on Long Island.

John’s brother, Joel Perry, contacted Hanselman Landscape in 2022 about designing this garden, believing that the atmosphere of mindfulness and serenity fostered in Japanese gardens would be perfect for this memorial.

On this very personal project, our designers worked closely with Joel to make sure that even small details acknowledged the depth of his brother’s and family’s sacrifice. Features like the boulders–specially chosen to represent John, Joel, and their sister Janice–and the two existing trees retained to represent the Twin Towers contribute to the garden’s design to ensure Joel’s family has a meaningful and tangible way to honor their brother’s memory.

Joel greatly appreciated the conscientious care, commenting that his friends have been “wowed” by the meticulous, “clutter-free” appearance of his gravel garden and the high-quality plants provided by Hanselman Landscape.

As the years pass, our team hopes that this living memorial will continue to provide solace for the Perry family, commemorating John’s bravery and sacrifice with timeless stone and ever-growing garden beauty.

Contributed by Julia Kramer

Garden Care team member at Hanselman Landscape

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