Walker Memorial June 3rd 2023
This year marks the fifty-third anniversary of the dedication of the Ronald E. Walker Scouting Memorial and Walker Memorial Garden by Norman Walker to honor the memory of his son. As a boy, Ron had been active in Troop 128, chartered to St. Joseph’s Church in North Brookfield. Because both father and son shared a love for Scouting, and because Scouting had brought them so close to one another, the idea for this “Living Memorial to Scouting” was born. With Mr. Walker providing the design and supervision, construction started in late 1969. The Garden was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 25, 1970. The Heart of New England Council of the Boy Scouts of America gathers on the Saturday after Memorial Day each year to honor the departed members of the Scouting community. The life-sized statue of the Boy Scout was carved in Vermont. It represents all members of the Scouting movement – past, present, and future. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thank you to electrician Joel Berthiaume and his crew for their dedication to this project, which includes the permitting and installation of the carillon chimes and the new spotlights. Sincere thanks to Jeff Bezdek and his team at Vox Audio Visual / Bells of America for the carillon system design and technical support. Thank you to Jeff Tasse for his generous matching donation that helped us reach and exceed our fundraising goal. Thank you to Lisa Giguere Berthiaume for her early encouragement and support of this project. Thank you to the Walnut Grove Cemetery Commissioners Kirk P. Burnham, Jason M. Petraitis and Mary E. Kularski for their help and cooperation. Thank you to Ed Bemis, Bemis Farms Nursery for his guidance and generous support of the new plantings. Thank you to Carl "Skip" Nielsen for his help planting the new shrubbery and perennials. Thank you to the Walker Scouting Memorial Committee for lending their support to the carillon chimes project and for keeping this annual tradition alive. Walker Scouting Memorial Carillon Fund Donors: Matthew Benvenuti Joel Berthiuame Robert Bishop Betty F. Batalis Chris Brown Dominic Brown Mark Carron Thomas Chamberland Deborah Davis Phyllis & John Davis Laurie Jean Drake Anne Dygon Meems Ellenberg Peter Farrelly Bernice Ferguson Joanne Ford Brien Graham Carl Gustafson Maury Hanigan Dave Hardies John L. Harrington II Rebecca Ikehara Bob & Susan LaFlamme Gail Lyons Jim Mallory Michelle & Paul McCrillis Carleen McQuaid Tonya Moynahan Diane Murphy Neil A. Noble Darlene & Frank Nykiel Nancy J. Nykiel Margy O'Donnell Marie D. Oprica Ella & Robert Papineau Robert & Patty Pariseau Kristy Peterson Susan Strandberg John Thompson Robert Zukowski PLATINUM SPONSORS : Lisa Giguere Berthiaume/ In memory of Walt & Mary Giguere Crowley Fuel/Tasse Oil / In honor of Bob LaFlamme & Crowley Fuel Company's l00th Anniversary R. Bruce Morris/ IMO Robert Sterling Morris Varnum Funeral Home GOLD SPONSORS Brookfield Lions Club Rotary Club of Sturbridge SILVER SPONSORS: James Flamand Sarah Holden/ In memory of Jack Holden Howe Lumber Company/ In memory of Steve Howe Catherine Murray JeffTupper BRONZE SPONSORS: Roger F. Banks, Esq., BEC Brown Electric Corp. Braley Wellington Insurance Common Ground Ciderworks Cuddy Insurance, Knight-Dik Insurance Lamoureux Ford North Brookfield Savings Bank Oakholm Farm Salem Cross Inn Still Hart's Cafe
This year marks the fifty-third anniversary of the dedication of the Ronald E. Walker Scouting Memorial and Walker Memorial Garden by Norman Walker to honor the memory of his son. As a boy, Ron had been active in Troop 128, chartered to St. Joseph’s Church in North Brookfield. Because both father and son shared a love for Scouting, and because Scouting had brought them so close to one another, the idea for this “Living Memorial to Scouting” was born. With Mr. Walker providing the design and supervision, construction started in late 1969. The Garden was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 25, 1970. The Heart of New England Council of the Boy Scouts of America gathers on the Saturday after Memorial Day each year to honor the departed members of the Scouting community. The life-sized statue of the Boy Scout was carved in Vermont. It represents all members of the Scouting movement – past, present, and future. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thank you to electrician Joel Berthiaume and his crew for their dedication to this project, which includes the permitting and installation of the carillon chimes and the new spotlights. Sincere thanks to Jeff Bezdek and his team at Vox Audio Visual / Bells of America for the carillon system design and technical support. Thank you to Jeff Tasse for his generous matching donation that helped us reach and exceed our fundraising goal. Thank you to Lisa Giguere Berthiaume for her early encouragement and support of this project. Thank you to the Walnut Grove Cemetery Commissioners Kirk P. Burnham, Jason M. Petraitis and Mary E. Kularski for their help and cooperation. Thank you to Ed Bemis, Bemis Farms Nursery for his guidance and generous support of the new plantings. Thank you to Carl "Skip" Nielsen for his help planting the new shrubbery and perennials. Thank you to the Walker Scouting Memorial Committee for lending their support to the carillon chimes project and for keeping this annual tradition alive. Walker Scouting Memorial Carillon Fund Donors: Matthew Benvenuti Joel Berthiuame Robert Bishop Betty F. Batalis Chris Brown Dominic Brown Mark Carron Thomas Chamberland Deborah Davis Phyllis & John Davis Laurie Jean Drake Anne Dygon Meems Ellenberg Peter Farrelly Bernice Ferguson Joanne Ford Brien Graham Carl Gustafson Maury Hanigan Dave Hardies John L. Harrington II Rebecca Ikehara Bob & Susan LaFlamme Gail Lyons Jim Mallory Michelle & Paul McCrillis Carleen McQuaid Tonya Moynahan Diane Murphy Neil A. Noble Darlene & Frank Nykiel Nancy J. Nykiel Margy O'Donnell Marie D. Oprica Ella & Robert Papineau Robert & Patty Pariseau Kristy Peterson Susan Strandberg John Thompson Robert Zukowski PLATINUM SPONSORS : Lisa Giguere Berthiaume/ In memory of Walt & Mary Giguere Crowley Fuel/Tasse Oil / In honor of Bob LaFlamme & Crowley Fuel Company's l00th Anniversary R. Bruce Morris/ IMO Robert Sterling Morris Varnum Funeral Home GOLD SPONSORS Brookfield Lions Club Rotary Club of Sturbridge SILVER SPONSORS: James Flamand Sarah Holden/ In memory of Jack Holden Howe Lumber Company/ In memory of Steve Howe Catherine Murray JeffTupper BRONZE SPONSORS: Roger F. Banks, Esq., BEC Brown Electric Corp. Braley Wellington Insurance Common Ground Ciderworks Cuddy Insurance, Knight-Dik Insurance Lamoureux Ford North Brookfield Savings Bank Oakholm Farm Salem Cross Inn Still Hart's Cafe