Behind Taylor Hall lies a hill covered in a blanket of yellow, where hundreds of daffodils bloom each spring from bulbs planted annually in the fall.
In remembrance of U.S. service members, Kent State University continues its tradition of planting yellow daffodil bulbs ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Located behind Taylor Hall near the May 4 Memorial, Blanket Hill brings together volunteers, students and University Facilities Management staff to plant bulbs that will bloom during Ohio’s spring season.
Each year, the planting helps maintain a living memorial honoring those who served and lost their lives during the Vietnam War and every conflict since. Rebekkah Berryhill, Kent State’s manager of grounds, emphasized that the flowers serve as a reminder of the history behind the memorial and encourage future generations to learn from the past.
“As the years pass, fewer individuals remain that personally experienced the war and witnessed its events,” Berryhill told Kent State Today “My hope is that the beauty of the flowers will serve as a living reminder of that history, encouraging future generations to ask questions, seek understanding and learn from the past, so that history does not repeat itself.”
Kent State's commitment to learning from the past drives its approach to creating a globally focused society built on respect, ensuring that students not only comprehend history but also use its lessons to navigate obstacles with understanding and compassion.
The annual planting tradition began in 2022 and was inspired by Brinsley Tyrrell, the founder of Daffodil Hill. Berryhill noted that maintaining this tradition helps reflect Tyrrell’s original vision of bringing people together through a shared purpose.
“Even if people come with different perspectives, planting the bulbs and interacting with one another allows opportunities to inquire, learn and reflect,” Berryhill said.
For this year’s event, volunteers planted approximately 2,500 daffodil bulbs across Blanket Hill, continuing the efforts to expand the living memorial.
For some students, joining the planting is a chance to give back to the Kent State community while learning more about the history behind the memorial.
Sophia Como, a sophomore exploratory major, took part in the annual event for the first time. Having grown up gardening with her mother, Como said volunteering allowed her to pair a personal passion with campus service.
“I think it’s important to show that we have a community here to help and support each other. And that at the end of the day, we’re all human beings, and we all care about the same thing,” Como said.
Sean Jewell, a first-year business management major, also participated for the first time. He said the event held a personal meaning because of his grandfather’s military service.
“I had a grandfather that was in the war, so it means especially for me that I can do something like this to contribute to the memory,” Jewell said. “He lost friends that were in this area, and it’s good to commemorate them for him on his behalf.”
Along with first-time participants, the planting also brings together returning volunteers who have continued participating in the tradition over the years. Charles Frederick, an assistant professor in Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design as well as a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, said the opportunity helps preserve the history of the university while creating a place for intergenerational connection.
“I think this one kind of small part that we could do to help memorialize this, to help come together, teach a couple of young people about the importance of this hill,” Frederick said. “It disappears when people forget.”
Jacob Dennis, groundskeeping supervisor, noted that participating in the planting provides an opportunity to connect with the community while helping maintain the university’s campus memorials. As a Kent State alumnus, Dennis emphasized that he takes pride in helping areas preserve the campus for future generations.
“Hopefully it triggers a memory of all of us coming together and working on something as a community to commemorate our fallen loved ones,” Dennis said.
For many, the tradition represents more than maintaining campus landscapes. It also reflects the university’s responsibility to create an environment where students and community members can have open and honest conversations about difficult subjects, including war and loss of life.
“The subject of war or loss of life doesn’t always have to stem from headline news; the thoughts and discussions can be stimulated by something beautiful, like our daffodils,” Berryhill said.
When spring approaches, the bulbs will bloom, their yellow flowers serving as a symbol of the service members being honored and the importance of preserving their stories for new generations. Through the continued efforts of volunteers, students and university staff, Blanket Hill remains a place for remembrance, reflection and shared purpose.
Learn more about May 4, 1970, and the May 4 Visitors Center.
