Greenhagen Memorial Dedicated On Mother's Day

By Samar

In a park next to the hospital where she served and died, Melissa Greenhagen's memorial was dedicated last Sunday, Mother's Day.

A crowd of family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of a vibrant, caring woman and establish the place where one can rest and remember her.

The memorial in Hoyt Park, a curved brick wall bearing a picture of Melissa Greenhagen with a stone bench facing it, is the Eagle Scout project of Jeff Irving, who was in Greenhagen's troop. Boy Scouts from Troop 861 and Cub Scout Troop 1809 performed the flag ceremony that opened the dedication.

After an invocation by the Rev. Jay Ashbaucher, Mayor Dan Carney welcomed the people. 

A letter from Gov. Brian Schweitzer was read by Bill Bell.

The governor wrote in part, "As you gather today to commemorate the life of a mother, a public servant, emergency medical technician and a model of civic engagement and volunteerism, we join you in your sadness, but know that this event will also bring inspiration. Like Jeffrey who was inspired to create the memorial, we're confident that Melissa's memory will inspire others in the wonderful community of Glasgow to devote time and energy to the community and to family, neighbors and friends."

The many facets of her life were represented by the people who spoke. Mike Carney, the district executive for Buffalo Plains Boy Scout Council, knew Greenhagen through their common Scouting experiences. Jeff Irving's father, David Irving, read remarks from District Judge John C. McKeon. Greenhagen was the elected clerk of district court, which McKeon presides over.

She was remembered by Nick Dirkes, the president of the Fort Peck Fine Arts Council, for the many plays she enjoyed acting in at the summer theater. Emergency services director Clay Berger was her chief when she was volunteering as an EMT, and he was called into duty on Jan. 17, 2009, the night she was killed in the hospital parking lot after an ambulance run. The shooting was apparently a random act. Glasgow Police Chief Bruce Barstad was second in command in the department at the time, and was part of the massive law enforcement response that protected the town and stopped the sniper.

Finally, Greenhagen's family made the dedication: her husband, Craig, and their children Quinton, Coby, Karissa and Craiger.

The stone bench is inscribed on the front with a dedication to Melissa Greenhagen and the back explains Irving's Eagle project and the date. Also on the back is a circle with a dot in the center, a trail sign. The explanation is carved underneath: going home.