WASHINGTON – President Trump signed an executive order on Monday creating a garden in honor of a long and diverse list of deceased American legends, including Kobe Bryant, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alex Trebek and Frederick Douglass.
“The National Garden will be built to reflect the incredible splendor of our country’s timeless exceptionalism,” said the order, signed on one of its last two full days as president.
“It will be a place where citizens, young and old, can renew their vision of greatness and accept the challenge that I gave to all Americans in my first address to Congress, to ‘[b]believe in yourself, believe in your future and believe, once again, in America. ‘”
The garden will feature “a list of heroes who deserve honor” and includes political figures, artists and talented athletes.
Some figures on the list include boxer Muhammad Ali, first man on the moon Neil Armstrong, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, singer Johnny Cash, Albert Einstein, Apple founder Steve Jobs, Frank Sinatra, Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg and “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.
The order said that each individual had been chosen “for embodying the American spirit of boldness and challenge, excellence and adventure, courage and confidence, loyalty and love”.
Trump said the garden would promote the country’s achievements in a time of “dangerous anti-American extremism” and mentioned the destruction and desecration of monuments of figures like George Washington during the summer protests.
“The National Garden is America’s response to this reckless attempt to wipe out our heroes, values and the whole way of life. In its field, the devastation and discord of the moment will be overcome with a permanent love for the country and a lasting patriotism. This is the American way. When the forces of anti-Americanism tried to burn, topple and destroy, patriots built, rebuilt and rose. This is our story. “
A task force created to oversee the construction of the garden is in the process of finding a suitable location.