Local author Jill Vanderwood proposed a plan to the City Council and the cemetery committee to place a monument in the Malad Cemetery. The idea came about in 2019. Jill put this plan on hold during the pandemic, and it is now becoming a reality.

The front of the Million Broken Hearts monument will read: Each Life that is Ended Through Violence, Suicide or Accidental Death Leaves Behind a Million Broken Hearts.

Fundraising took place around the Malad Valley. Thanks to a bingo night sponsored by the American Legion, a quilt raffle from the Oneida County Quilters, and an ice cream sale on the 4th of July. 

Vanderwood thanks the following individual donors for their support: Julie Bell, Jean Thomas, Alice Moon, Bill Lewis, Mayor Joan Hawkins, Spence and Debbie Horsely, Randy and Lois Willie, Fred and Mylene Jones, Gaylene Willie, Danece and Michael Hess—Hess Pumice Products Inc., Idaho Outdoor Properties, Malad Drive-In—Holden and Mariah Price, The Dude Ranch Café, Salt Creek Realty, Oneida County Hospital/Long Term Care/Home Health

The final push came with donations from Malad City and Brad Horsely of Horsely’s Funeral Home. 

Cedar Nesbitt provided the artwork on the front of the monument. 

Jill Vanderwood is passionate about this project, having lost her younger brother, Tom, to suicide.

The monument is in remembrance of loved ones lost to suicide, domestic violence, and veteran suicide. As Vanderwood explains, “initially, the donor listed a name for the monument. A problem occurred when a family member or a friend gave us a name without their family’s permission.  In the end, we decided that the names were not necessary. The monument is a calm place for family and friends to remember the love they have for their missing loved one.  Rather than placing names on the back of this monument, we have lists of information and contact information about Suicide, Domestic Violence, and Drunk or impaired driving.”

The monument will be placed in the cemetery near the stage pavilion next month, but the ceremony will be held on or around Memorial
Weekend.

If you haven’t had a chance to donate, Vanderwood and the other project leaders would still like to place benches at the memorial in the future, in addition to having paving stones leading up to it. You can donate through the Malad City Foundation.