A weekly recap of key events and items of interest to the Milton community:
A Family’s Grief
An incomprehensible tragedy befell the Revelus family last Saturday. The story, which received national attention, is well known to all. Following are comments made during the course of this sad ordeal:
“The fact that they decided to force their way in saved the life of this young girl. It’s pretty heroic. . . . I still see the sadness in their eyes.” — Milton Police Chief Wells speaking about the officers who arrived on the scene
“The mother understands this was a tragic incident, as bad as it could be, but she is the mother of all three . . . They are all going to be remembered as loving children. What happened, how it happened, we may never know,” — Ernst Guerrier, lawyer and spokesman for the Revelus family
“I’m still going to cry,” she said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to fully get over it.” — Tashayla Martin, a 15-year-old freshman at Milton High School
“Please do come to the wake, to the funeral . . .it is your [the community’s] spirit that has helped them this far.” — Ernst Guerrier, lawyer and spokesman for the Revelus family
“The outpouring of support is not going away.” — Josh Brogadir, NECN correspondent
A Community’s Strength
At one point in last weeks conversation with Kevin Sorgi, the outgoing Town Treasurer, he hypothetically asked; “What is the town?” He was not referring to a specific geographic place; but a more abstract sense of community that he believes is so special about Milton, the community’s strength of character. (View Sorgi post here.)
It was on display this week. As the correspondent Josh Boradir noted, the outpouring of support in Milton for the Revelus family is not going away. A fund has been set up at Citizens Bank to assist the family (visit any branch to make a contribution to the Revelus Family Trust). Over 1500 people from Milton, Mattapan, and the Haitian Amercian community attended the wake for the Revelus children.
This community strength was also on display Friday night at the IBEW union hall in Dorchester where, by organizers estimates, over 700 people attended a benefit for Mike Madden, Milton resident and soccer coach. Town residents, members of the greater south shore soccer community, and his Verizon colleagues and co-workers were all present. Coach Madden is recovering from complications of back surgery which have left him with limited use of his legs. You can learn more at the Friends of Mike Madden web site here.
A Beautiful Library
The scene played out over and over again this past week end. People would enter the library alone, with families or in small groups and pause to gaze around. And then inevitably, they would break out in broad smiles’ asking each other, “Isn’t is just great?” Well, it is just great!
If you haven’t been already, Go! Tomorrow night, April 7th at 7:30there will be an evening of music featuring Marjorie Jeffries, longtime Trustee and advocate for the public library.