MLA 2016 Conference #MLA2016

Outreach to Palmer Creation of Veterans’ Garden and Memorial

 Who are our heroes?  Veterans  How can we honor them? Every hero has a story is sponsored by the Palmer Public Library & The Massachusetts Library System, The Boston Bruins, The Massachusetts State Board of Library Commissioners, The Friends of the Palmer Public Library, The Palmer Cultural Council, and the generous donations of businesses and organizations. Idea

Ceremony Add flowering bush Change flowering bush to garden Ceremony, garden, & memorial stone Development of the Idea

 Cost of project $1400  Library’s Contribution $ 600  Donations $ 800  Total Donations $ 800  Businesses $ 525  Individuals $ 275 Funding Donations

 Signage and handouts inside and outside of the library  Palmer Public Library’s Seasons newsletter  News media  Invitations Publicity

 Friends of the Library  Palmer Public Library Association  Businesses and non-profits  Community  Representatives of local, state, and federal government Invitations

Postcard

 Library  Community  Government  Veterans Ceremony Participants Sunday, August 16, 2015

 Master of ceremonies  Welcome  Introductions of speakers  Thank-yous to sponsors Library

 Attendance 70  All ages  Veterans  Non-Veterans  In downtown Palmer – people stopped for the event  Covered by M-PACT-TV and Journal Register Community

 Proclamation from Palmer Town Council given by Councilor Donald Blais, Jr.  New flag given by State Representative Todd Smola  Citation from Massachusetts State Legislature by State Senator Anne Gobi  Citation from United State Senator Elizabeth Warren Photos of Town Councilor Donald Blais, State Representative Todd Smola, and State Senator Anne Gobi taken by Douglas Farmer and published in the Journal Register, August 20, Government

Veterans  Military portion of ceremony by American Legion Post 130 and AmVets Post 74  Dedication and raising of the flag  Posting and retiring of the Colors  Keynote speaker Veteran Matthew Nay, American Legion Post 130  Unveiling Ceremony  Including three volley salute and Taps All videos produced by M-PACT-TV

Keynote Speaker Veteran Matthew Nay, American Legion Post 130

Unveiling Ceremony

 Community involvement in the project  Community wide recognition of Veterans  Veterans’ appreciation  Enhancement of downtown Palmer  Location allows public to stop and view  On M-PACT-TV’s website and YouTube  New stop for Memorial Day Parade  Library as an active provider and partner in the community  Volunteer gardener, “this brought the community together.” Effect on the Community