A committee of Reagan and Grant’s teachers and people who knew the family and worked on the idea of a garden for the elementary school.  Keri Morris, the Special Education teacher at VAES applied for and received a grant specifically for the garden. Each grade level has their own section of planters, while all grades share the pergola and benches to use as a sort of “outdoor classroom” when learning can be taken outside.  The garden sits just outside the library, so that even when indoors, it can be enjoyed.

Almost everything in the GREA garden has been donated.  From the lumber for the planters to the building of the pergola, and most recently the iron sign that dons the name “GREA Garden” from Jimmy Don Holmes who regularly appears on the Waco based HGTV show “Fixer Upper.”

Last Thursday, second grade teacher Mattie Mullenix took her class outside to the garden as they began their unit on weather.  After the class roamed the gardens, exploring and using their “weather words,” they all gathered back under the pergola for more instruction from Mullenix.

Although they had been out there before, Mullenix reminded her class of the reason the garden was there.  Through tears, she told the class that everyone wanted a place to remember Reagan and Grant.  “A garden was chosen so that knowledge is growing and they always live on with us,” she said.  Mullenix told her class that the garden was named the “GREA” Garden because Reagan and Grant were always together.  When their mom would call them, she would say their names so fast that it would come out jumbled together.  Thus came their nickname, GREA, to which they would both answer.

Reagan and Grant Small will never be forgotten.  And now, thanks to Van Alstyne Elementary School and our generous community, the GREA Garden will be a permanent fixture for years to come.