Barracks garden to honor fallen trooper

BLOOMING GROVE — The Pike County Master Gardeners are planning a memorial garden to honor Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, the Pennsylvania State Trooper killed by a gunman in an ambush last year.

The Master Gardeners are asking for contributions to the garden, which will be planted at the Blooming Grove barracks where Dickson died on Sept. 12, 2014, at age 38. The group has shared its plans with the Courier (see illustration).

Dickson's death shocked and saddened the community. He was known for his passion in getting impaired drivers off the road, earning multiple awards from the Pennsylvania DUI Association and numerous state police commendations. He received his Drug Recognition Expert certification, becoming one of the few highly trained troopers tasked with identifying drug-impaired drivers. In July 2013, Dickson was promoted to corporal and assigned to Troop K, Philadelphia. He was subsequently transferred to Troop R, Blooming Grove in June 2014, where he served as a Patrol Unit Supervisor.

Dickson was a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, having earned a B.A. in administration of justice and a minor in sociology. He served his country and state honorably as both a U.S. Marine and as a Pennsylvania State Trooper.

He left behind his wife, Tiffany Dickson, and two young sons, Bryon Keith Dickson III and Adam Robert Dickson.

The Master Gardeners estimate the garden will cost $11,714 to create. The biggest expense is for labor, at $6,825, to excavate the site and to build walls and walks. The plants come next, at $1,400. Bluestone will cost $810, and the pavers $990.

To contribute to the memorial garden, make checks payable to PSCE Program Account (rite “Memorial Garden” in the memo section) and send them to Penn State Extension, 514 Broad St., Milford, PA 18337.

Contributions to the Penn State Extension are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. The extension will send each donor a letter detailing their contribution and the fact that no benefits were given in exchange. The letter should be retained with the donor's tax return documents.

For more information call the extension office at 570-296-3400.