The Children’s Memorial Garden in front of Sippican School will be rededicated in an all-school ceremony on June 14 at 9:15 am. The student body will have their tradition Flag Day Ceremony around the Flag Pole at 9 am, then regroup around the Children’s Memorial Garden. The Marion community is most welcome to participate.
Marylou Hobson was the principal of Sippican School from 1990 to 2004. On her retirement, she requested the construction of a Memorial Garden to honor four Sippican children who passed during her tenure. Marques Silva & Andrew Rego both died in tragic accidents, and Alexis Wisner & Cody Johnson both succumbed to fatal diseases. Marylou loved the idea of building the garden around the huge spruce on the front lawn of the school, and the talented team of Susannah Davis (who did the design work) & Steve Gonsalves (who did the planting work) made it a reality. Last year, Steve Gonsalves noticed indication of disease & stress in the spectacular spruce. Specialist inspection discovered the tree had been hit by lightning, was hollow and succumbing to disease. Taking it down was a difficult but necessary decision. The silver lining: the Gonsalves/Davis team joined by Margie Baldwin has reinvented the garden to a new chapter, and the Pythagorean Lodge brotherhood has stepped in to do the work. The stump is a beautiful centerpiece to the stone memorial benches. New and old specimen trees & shrubs surround the sitting area making a nest to cradle our memories.
The Children’s Memorial Garden reminds us of the most important elements of our community. We remember these four children we have lost, and we hold their families dear. Please join in the entire community’s rededication on June 14.