Leadership project focuses on loss of pets
Rainbow Bridge to be built at Kish Park by mid-May
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LEWISTOWN -- Whether furry, feathered or scaled, pets are a part of the fabric of families.
Animal lovers who have lost a beloved pet might be familiar with the Rainbow Bridge, a symbolic reference to the place where pets cross into eternity.
When a pet dies, it is said to cross the Rainbow Bridge into a beautiful, peaceful place where it is healthy and happy again, awaiting the day it can be reunited with its owner in a comforting poem that is often shared with people grieving the loss of a pet.
But for some grieving pet parents in the Juniata Valley, the Rainbow Bridge is about to become a real place. Tucked away in the expansive Kishacoquillas Park in Derry Township, a rainbow-painted bridge will soon stand near the dog park, created by students in the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute.
The students were inspired by a Rainbow Bridge in Lake Lure, N.C., which was the focus of a segment on a recent edition of Good Morning America. Unfortunately, that Rainbow Bridge was tragically washed away during Hurricane Helen.
"So many members of our community have pets and we wanted to provide a way for them to memorialize their pet in a cost free-way," explained Kristen Shoemaker, a Leadership Institute student and branch manager at Kish Bank in Lewistown.
"Community members are encouraged to bring a collar, pet tag, or other piece of memorabilia to hang from the rails of the bridge to "remember their furry companion," Shoemaker added.
The Leadership Institute has been a local staple since 2019. Each year, the students -- consisting of employees from area organizations and businesses -- develop a community project to work on that adds beauty, value and a sense of community spirit to Mifflin and Juniata counties.
This year's class developed a beautiful idea to memorialize loved ones lost: pets. The collars and tags of beloved pets that will dangle from its rails, once the bridge is completed by mid-May. Painting the bridge will take longer as the pressure-treated wood needs a chance to cure.
"I am extremely proud of this year's Leadership Institute class," Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Rhonda Kelley said. "I believe this community project will be utilized by many of the pet lovers in our community. What a wonderful way to memorialize and give back to our pets who bring so much joy to our lives."
Pets aren't just animals, they are a loving addition to our families; providing entertainment, companionship, unconditional love and even medical assistance to those who need it. Pets are truly remarkable, and the students wanted a way to pay their respects to the pets that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Their plan is to construct a Pet Memorial Bridge where visitors can bring a collar, photo or some other memento of their lost loved one and add it to the bridge.
The bridge will be beautifully adorned with the colors of the rainbow, to indicate that the pet has crossed the Rainbow Bridge and will be landscaped to match the tranquil sounds of Kish Creek that flows nearby.
The bridge in Mifflin County will measure about 15 feet long and four feet wide. It can also be expanded on as future park projects. The bridge will be handicapped accessible, too.
"We would love to see this bridge grow and wind its way around the dog park eventually," Shoemaker said. "We are working closely with Josh Garver, the manager at the park, and he is excited about this project as well."
The Class of 2025 Leadership Institute currently features 14 leadership students who will be graduating from the program in May.
"I am so grateful to be part of the Leadership Institute this year," Shoemaker said. "It has opened my eyes as to what a great community we live in. I was born and raised in Lewistown and had no idea about the history of our town until this year."
The students are seeking donations of time, money and materials to help them bring this heart-warming project to fruition.
Those who have experienced the heartache of losing a beloved pet or had to comfort a friend dealing with the painful loss of their furry friend can understand just how much this project will mean to the community.
For more information or make a donation, visit www.petmemorialbridge.org.