Michael Jackson Memorial Bench in NY Botanical Garden

Why support a campaign for a bench in Michael Jackson’s memory in the New York Botanical Garden?  Because there are many ways to support and embrace Michael Jackson’s legacy.

Listen to Michael’s voice and emotions as he recites the poem Planet Earth.

Michael Jackson’s love of the earth are never more evident than in this poem and his concerns for the environment was a to be prominent theme in This Is It Tour.

Excerpt from – MJ’s Final Campaign 

The original Earth Song video and stage productions included scenes of war, poverty and starvation. Michael has now chosen to pick his battles and pinpoint his message for greater power and timeliness.The military tank Michael once braved on stage has been replaced by a bulldozer.War scenes have been replaced by whales and polar bears.Melodramatic, sure. Effective? Brilliantly so. Try and watch without tears. Whatever it takes, damn it.The song was to end with Michael speaking to the audience:“Nature is trying so hard to compensate for man’s mismanagement of the planet.The planet is sick… like a fever!If we don’t fix it, it’s at the point of no return.This is our last chance to fix this problem that we have, or it’s like a runaway train, and the time has come.This… is… it.People are always saying ‘Oh, they’ll take care of it… the government… ‘they’… ‘they’ who? It starts with us. It’s us! It’s us… or it will never be done.”

His concern for the earth were evident and made many years before the catch phrases “save our planet” reverberated and now we can pay tribute to him with the help of the NY Botanical Garden. Their mission statement includes the sentiments of Michael Jackson and highlights his message in Earth Song.

 “Seeking actively to arouse public awareness of the fragility of our natural environment, both local and global, and providing information about ways to conserve and protect it.” 

One of the ways, the Garden facilitates ways of honoring the memory of beloveds, is by dedicating benches as tributes with their names attached on bronze plaques. Below is the spectacular view from the bench that has been selected in honor of Michael Jackson and we can only imagine the bliss that can be found there viewing nature’s splendor.

All donations go directly to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden via the BBG’s Tributes and Dedication page, NOT via paypal.  Donations are 100% Tax deductible. Cost of each bench memorial is $10,000 and as of this posting $2622.70 has been collected. Updates on the amount collected will be posted as they become available.

UPDATE – 9/5/13 Facebook note-  from Randi Nelson With Randi’s donation of $500.00 added to the latest total we are at $5,947.10.

Click link – >http://www.bbg.org/support/dedications

Press the green “Make a Tribute Gift”

A screen will appear: 
Click an amount applicable or type in the amount you wish to donate.
In the Additional Information-  Type  “Michael Jackson’s Bench”
In the Tribute Information-  Under Type-
Choose “In Memory of” and Fill in Michael Jackson’s name in the spaces provided
Press Continue – Another screen will appear

Press Checkout. Another Screen will appear: 
Fill in your billing and payment information and then click Pay Now.  A confirmation page will appear with all of your information below this image: 

A confirmation will be sent via email the same day as donations are made and a letter is also mailed out a few weeks later. Once the bench has been paid for in full, a 4.5 x 2.5 inch bronze plaque will be affixed on the bench. There will be a one-time dedication ceremony and it is the hope that Michael’s children will be willing to write the dedication for their father.

For more information regarding this beautiful tribute for Michael – Please join the facebook group “Michael Jackson Memorial Bench at BBG” 
Or contact on Twitter – Linda Durogene-  @All4MJLove, Randi Nelson- @bethlovemj

  

Sources:

http://www.bbg.org/about/mission

http://mjjtheman.wetpaint.com/