Noah’s Butterfly Project: Honoring mothers who have lost children. Volunteers needed.
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, April 15th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — Showing love to mothers who have lost a child, or children is the mission of Noah’s Butterfly Fly Project, an annual event, started by Bonnie Shepherd who lost her own child many years ago. This project, which continues to grow and gain momentum around the region, aims to honor mothers of lost children this Mother’s Day.
What is the story of Noah’s Butterfly Project?
Noah’s Butterfly Project began in 2019 when Shepherd decided to take the loss of her son Noah, whom she lost shortly after birth 17 years prior, and turn that negative into something positive.
Shepherd said that one day in 2019 she came upon a newspaper article about a woman in Portland who had spread butterflies on the graves of children in an effort to share love with mothers who had lost children. This really struck a chord in her heart; Shepherd said and inspired her to do something similar. Rather than hiding away every Mother’s Day, as she had for those past 17 years, she decided to start adorning cemeteries with butterflies.
Shepherd says that in 2019, she and some friends, who had also lost children, covered Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande and Island City Cemetery with butterflies, as well as Forest Lawn Cemetery in Gresham where Noah is buried.
Since 2019 Noah’s Butterfly Project has grown to include Grandview Cemetery in La Grande and the old Pioneer Cemetery on Mt. Glenn Road, Union Cemetery, Elgin Cemetery, Baker City Cemetery and two cemeteries in Milton Freewater. Shepherd says that they include the cemetery on Mt. Glenn for those children that were lost coming on the wagon trains. The hope is to continue to grow and add more cemeteries each year including hopes to have butterflies placed in Baker City. Shepherd says that currently they are in need of volunteers to help with Baker City.
In 2023 over 6,000 butterflies were spread just in the local area, Shepherd noted. The butterflies are waterproof and are mounted on little metal stands so they display nicely at the cemeteries.
Anyone interested in learning more about Noah’s Butterfly Project or those who may be interested in donating to the project can email Noahsbutterflyproject@yahoo.com
