After the Joplin tornado, volunteers came to the city's aid within minutes and continued for months and beyond, with more than 126,000 honored through a tribute whose four circles represent Rescue, Recovery, Demolition, and Rebirth. A center mosaic recalls the "Butterfly Stories" children told after the storm, and the shards of the mosaic pedestals symbolize broken lives put back together. A bronze hardhat, gloves, sledgehammer, and hammer stand for the valiant efforts of the volunteers. Nearby, a memorial plaque and a recreated historic fountain honor the 161 lives lost, exactly 161 trees are planted in the park, and a reflecting pond on the site of the original playground honors the children lost.