On Nov 1, 2004, at 2:18 PM, Bruce Masterson wrote:
> <
http://www.truerwords.net/4360>
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> That is about as thoughtful a thing as I have ever heard of.
Thank you for saying so, Bruce, but I must admit that it's not an
entirely altruistic gesture. I think that one of the biggest fears of
bereaved parents is that others will forget their beloved child. We
need to keep Shane alive in some way. Thanksgiving is the only holiday
that we celebrate all year long. Shane had to be a big part of this
coming Thanksgiving somehow. We kicked around a number of ideas -
helping in a "soup kitchen" or homeless shelter, providing a meal for
someone who couldn't afford it, etc. All of that sounded great but
there was no direct connection to Shane.
Then I thought about the fact that the Norwich police were the last
people who dealt with Shane. And that some of them would still have to
work on Thanksgiving Day - giving up precious time with their families
& loved ones. When I came up with it, I didn't think it was the
greatest idea in the world but when I talked to Seth, he embraced the
idea. And when Seth called the police station, they seemed to like the
idea, as well. Now we are very much looking forward to the whole thing.
The meal will be the very best that I can produce & it will be filled
with love. I know that I will be thinking of Shane every minute as I
prepare it. And I hope that he would be proud of what we are doing.
Most of all, I hope the people who partake think of our baby boy, too.
That's what it's really all about to me.
We don't have the money to fund a scholarship or a wing at a college or
hospital - that kind of huge thing. But I hope we are able to keep
Shane's memory alive by small gestures such as this one. I know that it
helps Seth & I at the very least.
Corinne Dillingham
http://www.elpisbirmans.com
http://www.truerwords.net/shane/memorial.html
