United Network for Organ Sharing memorial

Located on the corner of East Jackson and North 4th Streets, at 700 North 4th Street, is a mostly unknown memorial. Small in size when compared to the real world impact it has on the organ and tissue donors community.

The Gift of Life Fountain symbolizes the gesture of giving and sharing through organ donation.

On a beautiful fall afternoon I experienced this well maintained and beautifully designed National Donor Memorial. The 10,000-square-foot memorial garden was designed by a volunteer committee of donor family members, living donors and transplant recipients from across the country. Funded entirely by private contributions, the memorial symbolizes an emotional journey experienced by donor families during the donation process and pays tribute to America’s organ and tissue donors.

The Wall of Tears symbolizes the tears of grief shed by donor families, as well as the tears of joy experienced by transplant recipients.

The memorial, established in 2010 by United Network for Organ Sharing, UNOS is the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government.

Photos by Anthony Nesossis.