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Angel of Hope Memorial Nears CompletionBy Angela Bunt - August 12, 2008
Special to iBerkshires
 | | Photos by Justin Saldo |
NORTH ADAMS — After years of planning and fundraising, Donna Morgan's dream of building a children's memorial park will come to fruition this Sunday.
"[I'm] excited and nervous," said Morgan. "There's been a lot of bittersweet times with this."
Morgan, who lost her only child Diana to bacterial meningitis more than 12 years ago, began work on the park after her retirement from Clarksburg Elementary School in 2006. The park, which will include an "Angel of Hope" statue, is meant for those whose children have died but who don't have the resources to do something special in remembrance.
"Some people will call me up and when they tell me about their child and how happy they are that I'm doing this, it brings back memories of my child," Morgan said.
The city donated a parcel land in Southview Cemetery to be used for the park. Morgan spearheaded a fundraising campaign to collect $25,000 for the park, including some $15,000 for the bronze angel.
 Families helped in raising funds by sponsoring pavers — 8-inch-by-12-inch granite slabs — with the names of their loved ones on them.
"At least 10 percent of the pavers have been donated to people who couldn't afford to have one," said Morgan.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 310 has also taken on Morgan's cause and raised almost $1,000 for those otherwise unable to afford a paver in remembrance for their child.
Numerous other groups and individuals stepped forward to help raise funds over the past year, from bake sales at Clarksburg Elementary to a Mill City Production of "Rabbit Hole," a play about grief.
The dedication of the children's memorial is Sunday, Aug. 17, at 4 in Southview Cemetery. Speakers will include the Rev. Albert Dagnoli, a member of the Sacred Heart Fathers, a missionary group, and the Rev. Michael Mullaney, pastor of First Congregational Church in Adams. In attendance will be Mayor John Barrett III, Lisa Johnson, a representative from the Angel of Hope national program, local singer Christa Duplantis and local clergy. Morgan will also be speaking, announcing the names already inscribed on the 100 pavers being planted in the park.
 "Depending on the weather, the program here could probably run 45 minutes to an hour. If it's raining or really hot I think we'll shorten it up and do the rest at the hall," said Morgan.
The public is welcome to attend the dedication. The reception, hosted at the Eagles' Hall on Curran Highway, is invitation only and will begin directly after the ceremony. |
I am so thrilled to see this . I wish I knew it was in the works. I would have loved to help. I lost a baby in 2002. And I have many friends that have also. I have always loved RPE book. I actually started the process of trying to get an angel erected here in Pittsfield. It was halted when noone would agree on what land I could do it.
I am so excited for you Donna....and I am hoping to be there December 6th. | | from: Kristen Watkins | on: 11-27-2008 |
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| My husband and myself attended the opening with Charles and Donna Baldwin. What a touching time. I have several friends who lost there child in one case or another. I try to be very supportive to my friends, we keep on sharing good and bad times. Never forget the child. Always include there name in thought. | | from: Lois Pare | on: 09-03-2008 |
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A beautiful tribute.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis and the founder and executive director of a national organization, Meningitis Angels, www.meningitis-angels.org.
Too many infants, teens, kids and young adults are left debilitated or die from this vaccine preventable disease.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as, organ failure, blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, severe seizures, brain damage and other disabilities.
You should also understand meningococcemia and sepsis.
Signs and Symptoms
Do you know the early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which could improve detection of the disease and save lives?
Unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness, debilitation or death. Anyone can get meningitis especially infants, children and teens.
What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. The current vaccines are approved for ages (2) years and older. However be informed, there are (5) sero-groups of the disease, all sero-groups are not covered. However the most common in the United States among adolescents and college students is sero-group C and Y, which are.
Infants and toddlers should be vaccinated against pneumococcal meningitis.
Those children in daycare and those of American Indian and African American heritage are at a higher risk for pneumococcal meningitis.
There are no vaccines to prevent viral meningitis.
.
Frankie Milley, Meningitis Angels, Founder/National Director
Meningitis Angels (Base) Texas
| | from: Meningitis Angels | on: 08-15-2008 |
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