" Leonard Zakim-Bunker Hill " " Bridge Dedication "
(Boston, Ma. 10-4-02)
Thanks to Jillian, and Gail, for the Pictures and Memories from Boston!!
My daughter's name is Jillian, and it was a school trip. She and a group of kids from her
high school were chosen to attend the Leadership Youth Summit in Boston, along
with kids from other schools across the state. They first went to a conference,
where they listened to speakers on diversity, with local radio personality Billy
Costa from KISS 108 FM, Elliot Jordan from Jordan's Furniture (big chain in New
England that does alot of work for the AntiDefamation League among other things),
and Lenny Zakim's son, who I think is only a teenager himself.
After the conference they went over to the Bridge, and her friend Kristie spotted Bruce
getting out of his car, and THREW Jillie in front of the group cuz she KNEW that she
NEEDED to get a picture for me. ( I am well-known among her friends for my
obsession.) As I may have told you, I was on a mountain in NH (Mt Monadnock)
climbing with my 6th grader's class in the muck and rain, while Jillie and company
are in the presence of Bruce. I told her this was absolutely not fair, as I have been
chasing him longer than she has been alive, and now she has been closer to him
than I have ever been. Something is definitely wrong with this.........
The kids on the risers behind Bruce are members of a choir?( she can't remember),
and she says they were really cute, and sang several songs including We Shall
Overcome.
If you look closely at the picture of the kids filing toward the stage, you will see a
blond girl on the right of the stage next to the white flag, and that is Jillie. She
was part of a ceremony that involved the kids bringing stones up to the stage and
placing them in a container, which apparently is reminiscent of the Jewish burial
ceremony. When she came off the stage, she walked right by Bruce who was sitting
in the front row. She did not even try to give him my name and phone number,
I don't know what she was thinking!! Actually when I jokingly said that to her, she
said, Mom it was a CEREMONY!! So I guess I brought her up OK even though she
did not connect me with Bruce.
Thanks...
Gail