The School Committee deeply appreciates your presence here today. Your being here honors not only those children we have lost too soon, but every child and childhood itself which deserves to be treasured, loved, and nurtured.
Dr. John J. Harrington, Chairman of Bourne School Committee
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The School Committee deeply appreciates your presence here today. Your being here honors not only those children we have lost too soon, but every child and childhood itself which deserves to be treasured, loved, and nurtured. |
The history of this memorial began two and a half years ago. Mr. and Mrs. McKernan, who honor us with their presence today, asked that the School Committee name the soon to be completed Middle School after their Billy who recently died. Their request helped the School Committee realize that our responsibility to the students of Bourne extends to all those who passed away. Our response to their request was to begin planning for a way to honor him and all Bourne students who share the common experience of a short but treasured life.
Mrs. Mary Fuller, retired principal of Lyle Middle School, agreed to spearhead the effort, overseeing both design and implementation. Bourne residents through Town Meeting generously provided $30,000 for the Memorial. Upper Cape Regional Technical School teachers and students, as well as the Bourne Department of Public Works and the Bourne Schools Maintenance Department provided most of the labor required for the Memorial's construction.
A multitude of others donated generously. Among them were: Bourne School Administration, Student Memorial committee, Aptucxet Garden Club, Upper Cape Tech, particularly Bob Fleurant of Masonry department, Bourne High School National Honor Society, Renaissance Club, SADD/Peer Leadership, Student Government, Bourne Department of Public Works, Bourne School Maintenance Department, McDonald Bros. Monument Co., Clover Landscaping, Norton Landscaping, Upper Cape Electrical, Johnson Electric, Bourne Water Department, Massacusetts Maritime Academy, John Fuller, Keith Songer, Jeanne Spellman, Bourne High School Staff and Students, Adelphia Cable, the Bourne Enterprise, and the Cape Cod Times for their coverage and editorials.
Special gratitude should be extended to Mrs. Fuller and to Mrs. Juckett, Secretary of the School Committee. Many of the details of the project, which fell in place so well today, are their work. Thanks too to Mr. Robert Watmough, Business Manager of the Bourne Schools, who in addition to his many other tasks, undertook oversight of the financial aspects of the project.
Mention needs to be made as well of the contributions of Superintendents Edmond LaFleur and Barry Motta who offered direction and coordination. Each of them will receive a collage picturing the progress of the project and its completed appearance for their office.
Three identical books also recall the history of this project, and one each will be found in the Bourne Public Library, and the libraries of Bourne High School, and Bourne Middle School. The project and the children are beautifully remembered in the website www.bournememorialgarden.org.
We are grateful to the families of the students we memorialize today. Thank you for coming and thank you for allowing us to share your loss and your celebration of your children's lives. Please be sure to take with you a packet for each of you, which will be in the Middle School cafeteria after the ceremony.
Finally we are deeply grateful, not only for the many contributions, but for the sense of community and love for every child, regardless of his or her condition, which those contributions represent.
Losing a treasure is never forgotten. When the treasure lost is a child, whom we bore, and guided, and nurtured, all of us lose our bearings. This afternoon renews that loss of bearings, whether it occurred last year or fifty years ago.
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But this ceremony and this place do something else. They state clearly in words and song, in stone and brick, and in trees and shrubs that those we loved are still here in our memory and our love. The Bourne Schools hoped to prepare these children we celebrate today for a long and successful future. And indeed we have, a future in our thoughts and hearts that does not end. |
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I am pleased at this time to introduce Ashley Paulsen, a tenth grader from Bourne High School. She was among several students who created poems for this day. Hers was selected to be read at the ceremony, and the others can be found in the memorial books and the website.