Update---June 17, 2024

The beautiful tree that our class gifted to the school at graduation has come down and the granite memorial stone has been put in storage to facilitate the building of the new high school. Superintendent Gordon Smith assured me that the tree will be replaced and the marker located as close as possible to "our" tree when landscaping is completed in 2026. I have seven large slabs of our tree stored at my home in hopes of creating another lasting memorial from the Class of 1971. 

These slabs range in size from about three inches thick to just over six inches thick and are approximately two and a half feet to three feet across. They probably weigh between 125 to over 150 pounds each. Ideas welcome for preserving these beauties.

I want to share with all of you an article that appeared in today's (June 29, 2023) Reminder publication that is distributed free to thousands of area homes in many surrounding towns of East Longmeadow. Two weeks ago, through vast efforts of Bruce Moore and Tom Behan of the E L Historical Society, and with the help of equipment operated by Chris White, the memorial stone in front of the red maple donated by the Class of '71 at graduation was given a more visible presence. When I first photographed the tree and plaque in 2016, all was looking pretty good. In the convening time to the present, the Norway red maple's roots had overtaken the granite stone placed there by classmates Charlie Maurer and the late Mike Keane. Many, many thanks to these men for helping preserve our legacy.

   June 29, 2023

     September 2016

                   1973

          September 2016

          June 2023