For Bob and Nancy Milgrim, a cherry tree near the baseball diamonds at Porter Park in Prairie Village is now part of their family.

That’s because the Yoshino Cherry tree is a living memorial to Sarah, the Milgrims’ 26-year-old daughter who was shot and killed on May 21, 2025, outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Sarah grew up in Prairie Village, playing at Porter Park as a child and later running through it during cross country practices for Shawnee Mission East.

She earned the title of environmentalist from a young age, picking up trash in the neighborhood, seeking help at Lakeside Nature Center for injured or abandoned animals and, eventually, testing water quality in Johnson County as an intern with the city of Overland Park.

Sarah and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were both killed last year in a shooting, just as they were on the verge of getting engaged, friends say. The young couple worked for the Israeli Embassy, with Sarah focused on peace building in the Middle East.

On Saturday, a bright, sunny April morning, surrounded by more than 60 loved ones and neighbors, the Milgrims and the city of Prairie Village officially celebrated the young cherry tree as part of the city’s annual Arbor Day event.

Bob Milgirim said the last family trip they took with Sarah and her brother, Jacob, was to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It was Sarah’s favorite tree, making the new tree planted at Porter Park a fitting tribute.

“It’s something that we can watch grow, and it’s going to be here, hopefully, long after we’re gone,” Bob said. “It’s a living tribute to her, and as I said, it’s part of our family.”

The Milgrims have visited the tree, which on Saturday was adorned with painted rocks and a bouquet of flowers at its trunk, every day since it was planted.

A stroll through Porter Park is part of the Milgrims’ routine: the couple are avid walkers around Prairie Village.

Nancy said the plan is to continue to walk by the tree daily, weather permitting.

“We come and we talk to her, tell her to grow strong,” Nancy said. “If it’s windy, we say, ‘Hold your ground, stay strong in the wind.’”

“She just had this beautiful light about her”

On May 21, 2025, Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Lischinsky, 30, were killed as they left a Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

The gunman was later identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago. He reportedly chanted “free, free Palestine,” while being arrested. He has since been charged with more than a dozen federal felony counts, including hate crime charges.

Roughly seven months later, in early January, the Milgrims and 17 others — a significant number for the program — nominated Sarah for Prairie Village’s 2026 Arbor Day honorary tree planting ceremony. Eight other people sent in letters of support to the city.

Marlene Nagel, who helped spearhead the nomination effort, lived next door to the Milgrims for 17 years, during Sarah and Jacob’s childhood.

Nagel said she watched Sarah grow up and achieve so much in her 26 years of life.

The cherry tree planted in Sarah’s honor is a place for the Milgrims to memorialize their daughter, but also a point of recognition for the community, Nagel said.

“It’s also, I think, a reminder for everyone that there are people who are important to our community, to our world and to our lives, and being able to recognize and honor them is really an important thing that we can all do,” Nagel said.

Kylie Schultz, a high school friend and cross country teammate of Sarah’s, said Sarah “would be absolutely obsessed with” a tree being planted in her honor.

Schultz, like Sarah’s mom, said Sarah would particularly appreciate the habitat the tree will become for little critters like insects, squirrels and birds.

Spring reminds Schultz of Sarah, in particular “the way everything comes to life and is so green.” Schultz said Sarah would have loved the Arbor Day celebration.

Schultz said it’s surreal that it has been nearly a year since Sarah was killed, oftentimes faced with the “rude awakening” that she’s no longer alive.

“I miss her positive energy,” Schultz said, holding back tears. “She just had this beautiful light about her. Her laugh was just amazing. She had this little cackle almost when she laughed and it was, like, the best thing ever.”

Sarah rooted herself in public service, environmentalism

A cherry tree rooting itself in a Prairie Village park that Sarah played in as a child is a fitting honor, as Sarah dedicated her life to environmentalism and building bridges between communities.

After graduating from the University of Kansas with an environmental science degree in 2021, Sarah studied in Costa Rica as part of a program between the American University in Washington and the United Nations University for Peace. She earned a master’s degree in international studies and sustainable global development.

She interned at the city of Overland Park and worked in the public works department as a stormwater engineering aide.

Nagel, Sarah’s childhood neighbor, said Sarah wanted to protect the environment and “was a wonderful steward about trying to encourage peace and good relationships” within the community, but also globally.

Sarah worked for the Israeli Embassy at the time of her killing, specifically on peace building between Israel and Palestine. Peace efforts between Israeli and Palestinian organizations was the subject of her honors thesis at KU.

Still, Bob said Sarah’s lasting impact on the world was little known to the family until after her death.

People from across the world have reached out to the Milgrims about her efforts in peace keeping, reaching out to marginalized communities and more.

“It’s overwhelming,” Bob said. “We never knew what a large impact Sarah had, what a large impact that she’s still having now that she’s gone.”

Donate to memorial funds in Sarah’s honor

• The Milgrims will match up to $5,000 in donations made to the University of Kansas’ Sarah Milgrim Memorial Scholarship to Advance Environmental Peacebuilding & Sustainability.
• Donations to that fund, which is a little less than halfway at its $25,000 goal, can be made online here.
• Additionally, Nancy encouraged others who are inspired by Sarah’s impact to consider donation checks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, specifically noting the Sarah Milgrim Memorial Fund.
• This fund goes toward a variety of causes that Sarah cared about, the Milgrims said. Checks can be mailed to 5801 W. 115th St., #201, Overland Park, Kansas, 66211.

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