Pansies were her favorite flower and Meghan Kenny Halloran's family and friends have begun a tradition of planting the richly colorful annuals in her memory since she lost her battle with breast cancer in September of 2000. She was only 31.

On April 2, what would've been Meghan's 33rd birthday, members of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program joined the Kenny family and their friends to give life to "Meghan's Garden" outside the south entrance of Adelphi's School of Social Work. Hicks Nursery, where Meghan's father Larry Kenny works, donated the flats.

"A mother and father can talk all day long about their daughter - what a great child she was, how smart she was, what a great daughter she was - but it's nice to remember her in a fashion like this because as all you guys that were close to her know, Meghan's favorite flower by far was the pansy," her father said.

"And for those four and a half years of hell that she went through, it was the pansy that really kept her smiling. So for all of us and the students that go to school here to be able to come in and see the pansies, I think that's going to keep a smile on Meghan's face. I'd like to thank all the folks from Adelphi and the support group for making this happen."

Hillary Rutter, Adelphi hotline program director, added, "I know Meghan's memory is alive in everyone's minds and this is just a gesture we're making in keeping Meghan alive for a lot of people who loved her, to carry on her work that Meghan felt very passionate about."

Edward Kenny, Meghan's uncle, said the planting is a "wonderful thing not only for the family but also the community because it reminds people that this happens to young people."

Family and friends created Meghan's Pansies at the hotline and support program, where Meghan volunteered after her diagnosis. She helped as a computer troubleshooter and was most concerned about educating young women about the disease.

"Meghan was very smart and she was a humanitarian," Monica Kenny, Meghan's mother, said. "She was most comfortable in roles where she helped the downtrodden, whether they were human, animals or flowers. She always worked for a cause and she had a heart as big as all outdoors."

Her parents said their daughter was accomplished, even as a child. She played guitar, was a skilled sailor and at age 12, her paintings were exhibited on Long Island and at the Kyoto, Japan International Conference Center.

"At Garden City High School, she was on the honor roll for all four years and received a Regents scholarship," they said. "She was a high jumper and ran the distance medley relay for the high school track and field team. Meghan was an ambassador to Spain under the Garden City International Student Exchange. While in school, she worked as a cashier at The Food Basket in Garden City and as a prep."

Meghan attended Lehigh University where she founded and was first president of Habitat for Humanity. She graduated in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering with a computer science major. She worked as an engineer for UPS, JP Morgan and Time, Inc.

The garden had already existed in memory of Bernice Kramer, a breast cancer hotline volunteer, but was built upon when Meghan died. A plaque bearing "Meghan's Garden" now sits in the area.

Meghan's Pansies carries on the Garden City native's legacy. With the help of the fund, thousands of copies of the video, Teens Talk About Breast Cancer, have been distributed to schools and youth groups. For more information about Meghan's Pansies, call the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program at 1-800-877-8077.