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From YouTube: Mary Ellen Welch Greenway Dedication
Description
Mayor Walsh joins members of the East Boston Community to celebrate the renaming of the Greenway in honor of the late community activist Mary Ellen Welch. As one of the founders of the East Boston Greenway Council and the Friends of the East Boston Greenway, Welch, together with her neighbors, worked for decades on mitigation for parkland lost to Logan Airport, leading to the creation and extension of the Greenway.
A
So,
on
behalf
of
the
Friends
of
the
East
Boston
Greenway,
we
welcome
you
to
this
wonderful
occasion,
renaming
of
the
East
Boston
Greenway
Mary
Ellen
Welsh
Greenway.
On
a
personal
note,
I'd
like
to
say,
Mary
Ellen
was
my
mentor
and
my
best
friend
and
one
of
the
things.
If
I
had
problems
community
related
different
things
that
would
call
Mary
and
we
talked
about
it
and
one
of
the
best
things
Mary
did.
Is
she
trained
me
to
be
a
good
facilitator
for
meetings?
Chairing
meetings
meeting
should
only
last
one
hour
and
Mary.
A
Ellen
was
great
for
that
and
I'm
when
I
do
Chea
meetings.
I
do
try
to
do
that.
So
that's
remembering
mirroring
and
I'm
announcing
this
morning
that
the
mast
Port
Authority
portion
of
the
Greenway,
which
is
beyond
Porter
Street
up
to
Constitution
Beach,
will
be
renamed.
The
Mary
Ellen
Welsh
Greenway.
A
A
Boston
Greenway
council
individuals
who
signed
petitions
community
organizations
sending
letters
of
support
to
the
PAC's
Commission
in
supporting
the
renaming
the
Friends
of
these
Boston
Greenway,
who
assisted
for
planning
this
event
today,
Ryan
woods
and
his
staff,
who
have
worked
along
with
us
to
coordinate,
accomplish
our
goal
of
having
an
enjoy
both
successful
celebration
and
any
other
individuals
groups.
I
have
may
missed
a
dream
at
all.
Our
state
representative
has
graciously
accepted
to
be
the
master
ceremonies
today.
Everyone
Adrienne
matter,
oh.
B
Good
afternoon
everybody
it
is,
this
is
such
a
special
day,
and
it
is
such
an
honor
to
be
with
you
all
today,
as
we
celebrate
the
memory
and
legacy
of
a
Titan
of
community
activism.
Mary
Ellen
Welch
today
would
not
be
possible
without
the
incredible
partnership
of
a
number
of
individuals,
I
just
like
to
recognize
some
of
them.
Now.
First
of
all,
my
colleagues
in
office
representing
East
Boston,
our
state
senator
joe
bond
cory
city
council,
lydia
edwards,
who
will
be
here
shortly.
B
I
have
to
say
when
we
first
thought
of
this
idea,
the
Friends
of
the
Greenway,
who
deserve
another
round
of
applause
Karen
and
your
team.
Thank
you
when
the
Friends
of
the
Greenway
approached
us
with
this
idea,
we
started
making
phone
calls
to
the
city
to
Massport,
and
everyone
was
immediately
on
board.
Everyone
thought
this
was
a
no-brainer
and
it
was
an
appropriate
tribute
and
I
remember
when
I
reached
out
to
then
Commissioner
Chris,
Cook
and
now
chief
of
Environment
and
Energy
Chris.
Where
are
you
Chris
the
area's
tucked
away
in
the
back?
B
The
first
thing,
Chris
said
was
tell
me:
let's
make
this
happen
where
and
when
and
to
have
such
willing
partners
in
the
city
we
had
the
same
reception
when
we
called
Anthony
Guerrero,
we
say
representing
Massport.
They
just
wanted
to
roll
up
their
sleeves
and
get
this
done
when
you
have
such
a
reception
from
folks
in
government
and
stakeholders
to
want
to
want
to
move
forward
with
an
initiative
that
is
so
important
to
our
community's
history,
it's
always
a
pleasure
to
work
with
partners
in
government
like
that
and,
of
course,
Ryan
woods.
B
Mary
Ellen's
dedication
to
this
community
was
unparalleled
for
45
years.
She
was
a
teacher
at
the
O'donnell
elementary
school
molding,
the
young
minds
of
East
Boston
youth,
a
staunch
environmental
activist,
Mary
Ellen
worked
very
hard
to
hold
the
airport
accountable
being
involved
with
groups
like
ARINC,
for
example.
B
She
was
always
a
fighter
for
those
in
need
and
she
became
a
founding
member
of
the
neighborhood
of
affordable
housing
because
she
believed
everyone
had
deserved
the
opportunity
to
stay
in
East
Boston
if
they
wanted
to.
She
was
a
fighter
for
equality
and
social
and
economic
justice
for
all
and
a
fighter
to
preserve
our
community's
rich
history.
B
And,
of
course
she
was
a
founding
member
of
the
East
Boston
Greenway
council,
and
the
special
thing
about
Mary
Ellen
is
that
her
effectiveness
came
from
her
ability
to
build
consensus
and
collaborate
with
stakeholders
in
this
Greenway
is
a
prime
example
of
those
efforts
where
many
in
the
community
saw
a
sea
of
parking
flies
and
abandoned
land.
Mary
Ellen,
along
with
the
group
of
committed
community
activists,
many
of
whom
are
here
today,
I
see
Fred
salvo
Qi
as
well.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Fred
Valerie,
thank
you.
That's
they
deserve
a
round
of
applause.
B
Those
activists
saw
the
potential
for
a
greenway
that
would
connect
one
side
of
East
Boston
to
the
other,
and
this
Greenway
took
collaboration
from
an
extraordinary
amount
of
stakeholders.
Massport
the
city
of
Boston,
the
state
in
DC,
are
in
the
MBTA
and,
of
course
neighbors
in
the
community
here
in
East,
Boston
and
building
consensus
amongst
such
a
diverse
group
of
staple
stakeholders
certainly
was
not
easy,
but
people
like
Mary
Ellen
made
it
happen
today.
B
I
believe
we're
the
only
community
in
Boston,
with
a
Greenway
that
knits
together
both
sides
of
our
community
stretching
from
Pierce
Park
and
the
waterfront
all
the
way
to
Constitution
Beach,
and
it's
become
such
a
gem
for
our
community
and
I'm
excited
to
share
with
you
that,
with
the
partnership
of
senator
bond
quarry
councillor,
Edwards
and
others
in
this
community,
especially
the
Friends
of
the
Greenway,
we
got
an
amendment
in
the
state
budget
this
year
to
extend
our
Greenway
even
further
towards
starting
to
get
towards
Winthrop.
So
we
still
have
a
lot.
B
B
While
not
related
by
blood
for
my
cousins
and
me,
Mary
Ellen
was
always
auntie
Mary.
She
was
there
for
us
on
holidays
and
life
milestones
and
was
consistently
there
to
encourage
and
support
us
and
each
and
every
endeavor
I.
Remember
when
I
had
the
opportunity
to
become
a
legislative
aide
for
my
predecessor,
former
representative
Carlo
basil,
I
was
speaking
to
my
parents
and
my
at
the
time
girlfriend
now
wife,
erielle
and
the
consensus
was
Adrian.
B
You
need
to
call
auntie
Mary
and
get
her
opinion
on
this,
and
so
I
did
and
auntie
Mary
encouraged
me
to
go
for
it
and
in
2015,
at
26
years
old,
when
I
had
the
idea
that
I
should
run
for
state
Rep,
I
called
aunty
Mary
and
even
though
I
thought
it
might
be
a
crazy
idea.
She
encouraged
me
and
she
said,
go
for
it.
Adrian
go
for
it.
B
B
Her
sage
advice,
her
wisdom,
her
infectious
laugh,
her
incredible,
loving
spirit
are
so
sorely
missed
and
given
the
integral
role
Mary
Allen
played
and
the
creation
of
this
East
Boston
Greenway.
It
is
extremely
fitting
that
we
are
here
today
to
rename
this
beautiful
Park
in
her
honor
as
the
Mary
Ellen
Walton
Greenway
I'm
honored,
to
be
with
you
all
here
today
and
despite
her
reluctance
to
ever
take
credit
for
anything,
and
you
know
what
I
mean
by
that
she's,
probably
shaking
her
finger
at
us
right
now,
but
no
in
reality.
B
B
C
Well,
Adrienne's
stole
one
of
like
my
main
lines,
which
was
the
fact
that
Mary
did
actually
shun
shun
any
kind
of
awards
or
any
recognition
I'm.
Seeing
a
lot
of
people
here
that
I
I,
know
and
love,
and
so
I
was
thinking
to
myself,
but
it'll
be
okay,
because
we're
gonna
have
Irish
music
and
Mary
will
forgive
anything
to
hear
Irish
music.
She
was
always
tuning
into
the
Irish
hour
in
Saturday's,
right
Ellen,
but
since
the
music
hasn't
started
yet
I'll,
let
you
wait
for
that.
C
I
want
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
about
Mary,
since
the
time
I
knew
her.
Of
course,
I
met
her
before
I
really
got
to
know
her
when
she
was
working
in
charge
of
the
Woodbury
pharmacy,
soda
fountain
and
she
was
very,
very
efficient
and
she
couldn't
control
everything
and
she
would
have
arguments
even
men.
C
While
discussions
with
her
boss,
the
pharmacist
Vincent's
kandura,
who
was
not
of
the
same
liberal
feelings
as
Mary
had
he
was
convinced
that
Franklin
Roosevelt
really
knew
about
the
December
6th
attack,
or
was
it
December
8th
seven
and
he
and
he
was
waiting
until
that
happened.
So
he
could
bring
America
fully
into
the
war,
but
anyway
that's
that
just
gives
you
an
indication
of
the
kind
of
person.
Mary
was,
and
this
was
at
the
age
of
sixteen
seventeen.
She
was
a
born
leader.
C
Of
course
she
had
the
advantage
of
coming
from
a
long
line
of
very
determined,
Irish
women.
Some
would
say
stubborn
Irish,
women,
but
I
didn't
know
all
of
them,
so
I
won't
continue.
In
that
vein,
her
great-grandmother,
whom
she
would
tell
me
about-
had
left
home
in
the
1800s
during
the
gold
rush
in
California
and
she
went
off
by
herself
to
make
her
fortune
now.
She
returned
I,
don't
know
how
long
later,
but
you
have
to
give
somebody
credit
who
had
the
daring
to
do
such
a
thing.
C
That
meant
she
either
had
to
sail
all
the
way
around
South
America
and
come
up
by
California
by
San
Francisco
or
she
had
to
take
a
train
ride.
I,
don't
even
know
if
the
trains
all
the
way
there
existed
at
that
time,
but
she
did
return
to
East
Boston
and
she
returned
with
enough
money
to
pay
for
the
very
lovely
family
home
that
still
belongs
to
the
family
today
to
12
Webster
Street.
It
was.
C
C
C
She
was
a
very
wise
woman
that
Merriwell
remembers
and
would
talk
about
her,
often
and,
of
course,
Mary's
mother
Eleanor
Welsh.
She
was
quite
a
person
herself,
she
graduated
Emanuel
Pollock,
just
as
Mary
would
later
and
she
became
a
schoolteacher.
Just
doesn't
Mary
would
later
and
she
taught
piano
lessons
from
her
home
and
she
also
played
the
church
organ
at
masses.
I,
remember
her
and
I
remember
visiting
her
as
well.
C
That
gives
you
a
little
background
on
the
women
in
Mary
Ellen's
family,
now,
Mary,
valued
and
prided
herself
on
her
Irish
heritage,
but,
unlike
a
lot
of
other
people
with
their
Heritage's
Mary,
never
failed
to
notice
the
heritage
of
any
cultural
group
who
came
in
to
live,
make
their
home
in
East
Boston.
She
was
appreciative
of
every
culture
and
she
showed
it
by
when
she
became
a
teacher,
as
her
mother
had
been
before
her
and
as
Adrienne
said,
she
worked
for
many
many
years
as
a
second
grade
teacher
in
the
hue
of
Roe
O'donnell
school.
C
She
showed
her
appreciation
and
her
her
goal
of
making
every
single
child
feel
that
they
belonged
to
this
community,
no
matter
whether
they
came
from
Italy,
which
was
of
course,
the
largest
group
of
kids.
She
had
in
the
beginning
of
her
teaching
career,
whether
they
were
from
Ireland,
whether
they
came
from
Spanish
background
Cambodian
Vietnamese.
We
got
them
all
East,
Boston,
being
a
port
of
entry
and
for
every
group,
and
especially
at
crow,
American
children
that
we,
we
didn't
have
many
of
them
till
very
lately,
but
she
always
from
the
earliest
days
of
her
teaching.
C
She
would
teach
her
children
songs
of
every
nation,
very
often
in
the
languages
of
that
nation.
She
would
seek
out
these
saw.
Sometimes
they
were
Negro
spirituals.
She
taught
the
kids
come
by
yeah.
She
taught
them
Italian,
Christmas
carols.
She
taught
them
Vietnamese
carols.
She
taught
them
carols,
Irish
carols
in
Gaelic
how's
that
and
she
really
really
put
effort
into
giving
children
in
her
classes
the
history
of
their
community.
C
She
didn't
think
to
second
graders
were
too
young
to
learn
about
the
Battle
of
Chelsea
Creek
that
people
hardly
ever
know
about
from
the
Revolutionary
War
was
our
great
victory
where
the
rebellious
people,
that's
us,
actually
captured
a
British
sloop
that
was
armed
and
they
ransacked
it
and
they
sunk
it.
They
burned
it
and
it
was
a
great,
a
great
victory,
but
because
East
Boston
has
often
been
the
stepchild
portion
of
the
city
of
Boston
or
maybe
because
we
didn't
lose
that
many
people
at
all
in
that
battle.
C
You
never
heard
a
thing
about
it.
You
know
in
the
history
lessons
but
Mary
taught
it
to
the
children.
She
had
them
drawing
pictures
of
the
rebels
and
getting
and
getting
the
ship
and
they
were
posted
all
around
and
I
think
that
was
a
wonderful
thing
because
it
made
the
children
have
a
point
of
reference
of
the
place
they
were
cut.
They
were
from
and
I
think
all
children
benefit
by
that
sort
of
thing.
C
She
also
taught
the
children
about
the
Freedom,
Riders
Rosa
Parks
and
how
people
of
color
in
those-
and
this
is
in
the
50s
and
60s
when
we're
not
allowed
to
sit
in
the
front
of
the
bus.
We
all
know
that
story
and
Rosa
Park
was
the
brave
woman
who
did
way
with
that
by
her
actions.
She
agreed
to
get
arrested,
and
all
of
that
so
I
just
want
you
to
know
that
Mary
was
not
the
usual
second
grade
teacher.
C
She
never
thought
those
kids
were
too
young
to
learn
what
was
really
important
and
how
people
needed
to
able
to
voice
their
of
and
to
have
their
ideals
and
to
cherish
their
cultures.
Now
I
met
Mary,
actually
not
when
I
was
a
little
kid.
I
knew
her
from
the
pharmacy.
I.
Think
I
told
you
that
when
she
was
in
charge
of
the
soda
fountain
but
I
really
didn't
get
to
know
her
until
I
joined
the
drum
and
bugle
corps
at
the
Assumption
Church
and
the
CYO.
C
At
the
same
time
now
the
CYO
had
all
kinds
of
activities,
dances,
every
Friday,
night
and
prayer
groups
and
just
took
us
skating
and
did
wonderful
things
and
the
drum
and
bugle
corps.
We
had
all
kinds
of
practices
the
girls
had
to
practice
their
their
steps.
Miri
was
already,
of
course,
being
a
leader
and
a
star,
as
she
always
was.
She
was
already
the
captain
of
the
girls,
drill,
team
and
color
guide,
and
she
was
also
one
of
the
bigwigs
at
the
CYO.
C
Now
it
turned
out
that
Mary
and
I
lived
on
the
same
street
Webster
Street,
so
we
often
ended
up
accompanying
each
other
home.
We've
walked
down
some
nough
street.
We
turned
up
Cottage
Street
chatting
away
talking
about
so
much
and
as
we
got
older
into
our
senior
years
and
Mary
was
a
little
ahead
of
me,
she
was
already
accepted
at
Emerson
College.
C
You
know
we
had
more
and
more
to
talk
about
because
we
had
decisions
to
make
about
our
lives.
You
know
what
were
we
going
to
do?
Well,
Mary
was
going
to
be
a
teacher.
She
always
wanted
that
and
Mary
I
didn't
really
know
what
she
planned
to
do.
I
asked
her
I
said
to
her.
You
know:
Mary
I,
think
I'm
gonna
move
out
when
I
graduate
and
get
a
job
and
get
married,
I'm
gonna
move
out
of
East
Boston,
because
really
at
that
time
he's
Boston
was
kind
of
in
a
bad
way.
C
We
had
a
lot
of
losses.
Mayor
Hines
closed
a
beautiful
library
of
my
Geoffrey's
point
that
was
a
place
that
I
loved
and
when
that
happened,
I
think
a
lot
of
other
people
and
beside
myself
were
very
upset
because
that
was
our
place
to
go.
We
had
heard
sounds
of
the
airport
wanting
to
take.
Would
Island
Park
now
with
Island
Park
in
that
time,
in
the
late
50s
and
early
60s
was
really
the
only
place
in
East
Boston,
where
you
could
go
and
three
it's
fresh
air
see
a
lot
of
trees.
C
Make-Believe
you
were
in
the
country,
you
could
have
your
child
play
in
the
splash
pool
that
there
was
there.
There
was
a
lovely
big
gymnasium.
It
was
designed
by
Frederick,
Law
Olmstead
and
it
wasn't
truly
a
beautiful
park
and
it
was
dedicated
to
the
people
of
East,
Boston
and
called
world
war,
one
Memorial
Park
in
memory
of
the
people
who
were
slain
in
that
war
and
it
was
dedicated
for
all
eternity.
C
That's
what
the
big
dedications
said
and
for
many
many
families
in
the
50s
and
60s
who
had
large
numbers
of
children
and
lived
in
very
small
apartments,
especially
Italian
families.
That
was
the
only
place.
One
could
go
on
the
weekends
and
really
get
all
your
family.
You
know
around
you
in
the
open
space
and
use
the
barbeque
pits
and
take
your
pasta
pot,
the
pasta
pot
and
make
pasta
and
and
really
feel
that
you
could
enjoy
one
another's
company
so
anything
that
threatened
wood.
Island
Park
was
a
big
cloud
over
the
community.
C
Massport
had
ceased
being
the
novelty
that
it
was
when
I
was
a
little
kid
when
we
would
walk
down
to
the
airport
and
go
up
to
the
second
level
to
the
roof,
the
roof
top
and
watch
the
airplanes
taking
off
and
say
goodbye
to
my
father,
because
he
often
flew
up
well,
it
wasn't
that
pleasant
novelty
anymore.
It
began
to
get
very
aggressive,
especially
under
the
term
of
King,
where
there
were
great
incursions
into
the
community,
am
I
talking
too
long.
No.
C
Mary
loved
loved
loved
East
Boston
as
much
as
I
think
she
loved
her
family
and
all
of
her
friends.
She
was
so
dedicated.
As
a
bein
always
said,
she
was
one
of
the
first
people
to
become
an
activist
about
all
this
stuff
that
was
going
on
the
airport,
buying
properties,
convincing
people.
They
should
sell
their
homes
and
offering
the
money
to
get
out.
So
they
could
start
to
break
up
the
community
and
they
really
wanted
to
make
all
of
these
Boston
the
airport.
C
There
was
even
a
joke
when
we
got
our
skating
rink,
the
Picaro
rink.
Is
it
near
the
Orion
Heights
beach?
It
was
built
to
look
like
a
hangar,
and
the
word
was
that
yeah
they
built
it
so
that
when
they
take
over
East
Boston
it
won't
be
had
to
convert
it.
People
really
felt
that
people-
you
know
I
used
to
think
to
myself.
Is
my
house
going
to
be
under
a
runway.
Someday
I
mean
it
was.
C
It
was
not
a
good
feeling
and
I
hope
that
other
people-
it's
not
just
me
who
felt
that
way,
but
people
began
to
move
out
of
his
Boston
around
those
times.
They
began
to
move
in
droves,
they
could
see
the
handwriting
on
the
wall
and
between
that
and
the
fact
that
East
Boston
this
the
schools
were
very
old.
C
They
were
not
probably
of
the
highest
quality.
There
was
a
lot
of
litter
on
the
streets,
as
the
still
is
a
lot
of
litter
on
the
streets,
and
many
many
people
just
wanted
to
go
someplace
where
they
didn't
have
the
smell
of
jet
fuel
to
wake
up
to.
In
the
as
we
and
Jeffries
pointed
they
didn't,
have
the
increasing
noise
pollution
from
the
planes
and
air
pollution
from
their
their
fuel.
C
It
was
beginning
to
get
to
be
a
terrible,
a
terrible
time
for
some
people
to
try
to
decide
whether
they
wanted
to
invest
and
live
in
this
place.
That
was
having
all
these
problems
and
you
might
have
to
end
up
moving
out
anyway
or
to
go
into
these
nice
new
little
suburbs,
where
single-family
houses
were
being
felt
built
with
trees
and
lawns,
and
better
schools
maybe
and
clean
air.
C
Think
I'm
just
gonna
go
to
the
suburbs,
because
things
are
not
really
great
here
right
now
we
had
lost
the
opportunity
for
kids
to
fly,
kites.
Okay,
every
kid
should
be
able
to
fly
kites,
but
no
that
would
interfere
with
the
planes.
This
came
about
in
the
late
50s
in
the
early
sixties,
because
before
that
we
could
fly
kites,
we
lost
the
opportunity
to
celebrate
July
4
in
our
stadium,
where
we
always
all
the
kids
got
together.
C
They
gave
out
free
ice
cream
from
the
city
and
we
had
our
own
little
fireworks
and
people
loved
it
and
when
they
took
that
away,
it
was
like
wow
we're
not
even
Americans
anymore,
we
weren't
allowed
and
why?
Because
it
would
interfere
with
airport
traffic.
So
that
would
all
of
that
was
part
of
my
my
feeling.
Well
Mary
Ellen,
listen
to
what
I
had
to
say
and
in
her
way
very
sweetly.
She
said
to
me:
well,
I,
love,
East,
Boston
and
I'm
gonna
stay
here
and
I'm
gonna
make
it
better.
I.
C
At
that
point,
that's
why
you
find
me
here
today:
I
thought
to
myself
how
selfish
I
am,
how
lazy
I
am
God?
Why
didn't
I
eat
ever
think
of
that
part
of
the
reason
was
I,
never
felt
I
would
have
anything.
I
could
ever
make
a
difference
in
the
community,
but
I
never
really
regretted
the
decision,
because
everything
mean
this
place
we
have
today.
This
is
like
a
a
garden
spot.
We
have
so
many
beautiful
pots,
Pierce
pock
this
pot.
C
We
have
the
Orient
Heights
area,
the
beach
that
has
been
recently
redone
and
every
single
good
initiative
that
ever
took
place
in
East
Boston
in
the
last
50
years
was,
if
not
initiated
by
Mary.
It
was
certainly
supported
by
Mary.
She
supported
every
good
thing,
financially
with
generosity
of
time
and
efforts.
She
she's
cheap
with
a
leader,
but
a
leader
kind
of
behind
the
scenes.
I
think
a
lot
of
you
will
realize
that
she
would
write
letters
to
newspapers.
C
She
would
write
letters
to
of
people
in
Congress
in
Washington
in
Massachusetts,
and
she
would
back
very
strongly
our
own
representatives,
senators
and
city
councilors,
and
she
would
always
give
them
and
then
also
senators
did
I
say
that
yes,
didn't
want
to
forget
you.
She
would
always
whisper
in
their
ears.
What
was
important
in
this
community
and
what
wasn't
children
were
important
nature
was
important.
C
Pollution
was
important.
We
had
to
always
be
on
God
against
the
incursions
of
Massport.
Even
to
this
day,
even
though
we
have
sort
of
a
peace
treaty-
and
we
have
wonderful
people
who
work
for
mass
support
and
I
think
Mary
proved
that
she
was.
She
was
fair
and
just
in
the
fact
that
not
only
did
she
recognize
people
who
were
hurt,
those
who
agreed
with
her,
but
she
also
had
close
relationships
with
people
who
were
on
the
opposite
team.
C
B
Great
job,
ocular,
Berta
and
I
hope
that
you
all
got
a
sense
of
auntie,
Mary's,
values
and
sense
of
civic
duty
and
participation
through
those
stories
and
they're.
So
wonderful
to
hear
and
I
know,
I
speak
for
many
in
the
audience
when
I
say
I
miss
receiving
those
letters
from
auntie
Mary.
Those
were
so
very
special
and
I'm
I
saved
them
to
this
day
and
I
cherished
them.
B
One
thing
I
was
reflecting
on
is
I
was
standing
to
the
side
while,
while
Matthew
Roberta
was
speaking,
was
I'm
looking
at
the
crowd
and
it's
an
amazing
cross-section
of
people
that
have
intersected
with
Mary
Ellen's
life
Oh
throw
over
the
years.
You
have
old
activists
and
new
activists,
old
friends
and
new
friends
family
from
near
and
far.
It
is
just
a
beautiful
crowd
to
be
with
you
all
here
today.
Thank
you
all
so
very
much
for
coming
to
celebrate.
B
Mary
Ellen
and
one
person
that
I
saw
sneaked
in
recently
who
Mary
Ellen
worked
so
very
well
with,
despite
oftentimes
being
you
know,
on
opposite
sides
of
issues
is
former
CEO
of
Massport,
Tom,
Glynn
and
I
know.
Tom
would
always
say
what
an
effective
advocate.
Mary
Ellen
was
because,
like
I
said
before
she
brought
people
to
the
table.
She
just
had
the
special
way
about
her
of
cutting
out
any
adversarial
relationship
and
figuring
out
what
are
the
common
things
that
can
that
we
can
bond
over
and
unite
around
so
Tom.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
D
D
D
D
I'm,
just
about
50
years
ago,
Kevin
White
was
mayor
of
Boston
and
started
the
little
city
hall
program
and
I
got
to
be
the
first
little
city
hall
manager
and
the
City
Council
had
held
up
a
budget.
So
we
didn't
have
our
glorious
trailer
in
Mavericks
way,
which
was
a
very
elaborate
office
that
we
had
it
was.
It
was
hiding
someplace,
because
the
mayor's
office
didn't
want
the
council
to
know
that
he
had
already
bought
the
triplets
so
about
two
months.
D
That
I
was
mocking
time
going
around
meeting
people
getting
to
know
the
community
better,
because
I
really
am
from
Brighton
I
didn't
have
relatives
in
East
Boston
I
wasn't
particularly
so
one
of
the
places
I
went
was
to
the
APAC
to
a
meeting
with
John
White
was
at
the
time
the
deputy
director
Mary
Ellen
was
on
the
board.
Well,
she
ran
up
one
side
and
down
yeah
who
the
hell
is
Kevin
white
think
he
is
since
some
jerk
from
Brighton.
D
He
is
not
something
we
sponsor
to
do
this
job,
so
that
was
my
introduction
from
very
healthy.
It's
it's
been
an
interesting
relationship
ever
since
and
she
she
is
a
wonderful
woman,
I'll
say
let's
say
a
couple
of
things
about
her.
One
Roberta's
already
talked
about
her
pride,
her
pride
in
being
Irish
and
the
one
exclusivity
with
which
she
approached
her
pride
in
being
Irish.
She
would
always
give
some
zeppeli
to
joe
aiello
when
we
say
joseph
stay.
D
She
would
always
recognize
the
other
person's
ethnicity
and
celebrate
that
she
was
great
with
the
kids
in
her
class
and
when,
when
busing
began-
and
it
wasn't
popular
at
all
and
Mill
King
called
Mary
Ellen
and
said
we're
worried.
There
are
a
bunch
of
black
kids
that
are
going
to
be
bused
to
be
out
in
school
and
were
worried
that
there
might
be
some
roughness
and
might
get
hurt.
D
It
was
so
good
hearted,
she
said.
Oh,
we
would
never
hurt
children
actually
there's
some
people
who
would
have,
but
she
she
gave
everyone
the
benefit
of
the
doubt,
but
Mary
Ellen
was
there
opening
day
to
make
sure
that
those
kids
felt
well
and
that
people
didn't
like
the
idea
of
busing.
It
didn't
mean
they
didn't
like
to
them.
The
taking
when
beings
that
had
a
right
to
be
here.
D
The
other
thing
she
taught
kids
to
do
was
to
stand
up
for
their
rights.
She
would
write
the
phone
number
of
the
massport,
a
noise
complaint
number
on
the
blackboard
and
say:
if
the
planes
are
flying
and
he
kind
your
homework
call
them
I'll.
Have
your
parents
Bob
stand
up
for
your
rights,
I
mean
she
is
not
that's.
The
way
she
was
I
was
proud
of
what
she
was
educating
people
to
do
to
be
proud
to
stand
up
and
not
get
pushed
around.
So
a
really
great
person.
She
also
had
a
lot
of
kindness.
D
All
of
us.
A
lot
of
us
have
had
the
privilege
of
receiving
those
cards
with
our
handwritten
notes.
It's
just
amazing
what
it
would
do
for
you
and
when,
when
Mary
Ellen
this
past
year
was
in
the
hospital
and
Jimmy
aloysha
would
call
to
see
how
she
was
doing
her
Joey
lor
go
to
the
caucus
of
Mike
Capuano
or
myself.
D
Her
question
was
always
color,
you
I
mean
I
mean
she
was
in
very
bad
shape
and
she
was
always
worried
about
how
you
were
doing
just
just
an
amazingly
kind
person
and
kind,
but
tough,
and
she
really
could
stand
up
now.
I
disagreed
with
her
on
tactics
over
the
50
years.
A
lot
and
I
have
to
say
almost
every
time
when
the
smoke
cleared,
Mary
Ellen
had
been
right.
D
I
was
often
arguing
for
a
kind
of
a
pragmatic
approach
and
we
can
get
something
and
let's
not
go
overboard
and
marry
on
which
said
we're
gonna
take
a
strong
moral
position.
You
know
a
huge
amount
of
integrity,
we're
gonna
stand
up
for.
What's
right,
she
was
not
embarrassed
to
lose.
That
was
her
real
strength.
She
was
willing
to
stand
up
and
fight
and
a
lot
of
people.
He
said
we
all
know
he's
fought
some
think.
D
D
The
word
was
out
that
the
Port
Authority
wanted
to
cut
down
all
the
elm
trees
on
Neptune
Road,
with
some
bogus
argument
that
the
trees
were
interfering
with
the
radio
waves
that
localized
them.
It's
not
a
sort
of
a
technical
person,
so
we
got
a
consultant.
We
proved
that
the
localizer
could
work
with
the
trees.
It
was
all
nonsense.
D
We
offered
to
have
one
thing
to
do:
equals
from
the
star
of
the
sea
church
and
had
been
a
pilot
offered
to
fly
in
the
plane
with
the
pilots,
and
if
the
localizer
didn't
work,
he
with
his
credibility
would
tell
the
community
I'm
sorry
the
trees
have
to
go,
but
we
knew
that
the
trees
were
not
a
problem.
So
we're
fighting
this
technical
fight
one
morning,
I
get
to
the
little
city,
Harlan
Louise,
other
Artie
says
Fred
you
got
to
you
got
to
get
to
neutral
right
away.
D
Mary
Ellen
just
called
me:
they
cut
him
down
the
trees,
that
was
city
property
before
there
had
no
business
being
there.
They
went
there,
trees
there
were
a
trees
and
they
just
went
in
36
trees,
36,
chainsaws,
bulldozers,
picking
up
pieces
in
the
sidewalk
to
create
a
barrier
so
that
well
couldn't
tie
themselves
to
the
trees.
D
The
noise
was
incredible.
All
these
change
signs,
these
bulldozers
of
people
walking
around
crying
Georgie
Lorenzo
standing
on
the
roof
of
the
car,
making
a
speech
god
bless
him
drove
his
car
into
the
state.
Troopers
got
arrested,
made
the
front
page
of
the
paper.
He
did
it
very
slowly.
Let
me
judge
that
a
crazy
act.
It
wasn't
really
crazy
about
a
mile
on
it,
but
it
was
awful
what
they
did.
They
invaded
our
space.
They
destroyed
this
street
and
I
looked
round
with
Mary
Ellen
I
said
well,
let's
go
back
to
the
office.
D
We
got
to
figure
out
a
strategy.
We
got
to
do
it.
She
said
strategy.
This
is
a
tragedy.
We
have
to
stand
here
with
the
people
of
left
on
the
road
and
more
on
tomorrow's
thankful
strategy.
She
was
right
and
next
day
there
was
a
protest
meeting.
We
all
talked
strategy.
None
of
them
were
very
convincing
on
the
way
out.
D
Frank
Mullen
said
took
his
car
keys
out.
Listen,
you
know,
I
hear
next
time.
This
is
gonna,
be
a
nice
day.
I'm
gonna
drive
down
to
Logan,
Airport
and
I
want
to
look
carefully
dear
boy
very
carefully,
so
I'm
going
to
drive
at
about
two
miles
an
hour
around
the
airport
Broadway
who
wants
to
meet
me
and
Mary
Ellen.
Was
there
I
forget
how
many
cars,
maybe
hundreds
of
cars
people
showed
up
basically
shut
down.
The
airport
flights
in
California
couldn't
happen
because
the
planes
couldn't
take
off
because
no
one
could
get
to
Logan
Airport.
C
D
Was
a
it
was
to
observe
the
F
word
carefully
that
person
in
the
front
car
was
father
Celeste.
So
there
was
good
support
from
from
the
church.
Monsignor
potaro
I,
don't
think
was
in
the
car,
but
he
was
in
on
it
and
he
sent
a
message
that
the
port
had
crossed
Hawaii
and
it
seemed
like
a
desperate
act.
But
things
began
to
change
because
people
stood
up
and
said,
we're
not
going
to
take
it
anymore
and
and
Mary
Ellen
again.
Her
power
was
the
willingness
to
lose.
D
D
D
It
was
going
to
put
a
bunch
of
oil
tanks
just
when
we
needed
his
boss
sent
some
oil
tanks
in
the
path
of
the
runway,
just
to
make
things
more
interesting
and
that
was
acquired.
That
was
donated
for
$1
by
some
sulfur
dollar
by
Dave
Davis,
the
guy
that
replaced
that
King
to
DCR,
and
it's
now
a
waterway.
The
East
Boston
has
is
Mary,
it's
Roberta
just
said,
standing
and
fighting
to
make
it
a
better
place
who
knew
he
worked.
They
could
look
all
around
and
you'll
see
right
next
door.
D
The
ugly
housing
that
Mary
Ellen
added,
the
fronds
of
Monsignor
Kotaro
flock
for
there
was
going
to
be
a
Holiday
Inn
there
and,
in
the
end,
its
elderly
housing
because
of
Mary
Ellen
and
the
people
that
she
inspired
to
stand
up
and
fight.
So
these
are
physical
things,
they're
important,
they're
evidence
of
her
influence,
but
I
think
the
bigger
legacy
is
in
the
minds
and
hearts
of
those
of
us
who
knew
her
and
the
minds
and
hearts
of
thousands
of
that
were
inspired
to
be
proud
of
who
they
are
and
stand
up
for
themselves.
D
I've
been
worried,
I
see
a
black
cloud
there
in
any
minute,
Maryellen
soon
a
lightning
strike
down,
because
she
did
not
want
to
be
recognized.
She
didn't
want
to
wait.
She
didn't
want
a
funeral.
We
all
know
that.
So
this
there's
also
another
fellow
here,
the
Santoni
of
the
lambreaux.
Where
are
you
there's
Antonio?
D
So
Antonio
had
this
incredible
plan
that
was
supposed
to
be
part
of
the
big
day,
but
ended
up
not
happening
like
many
things
that
was
supposed
to
be
part
of
the
Big
Dig
and
Antonio's
plan
was
to
take
this
Greenway
out
here
and
expand
it
so
that
the
connecting
ramps
from
the
airport
roadways
that
go
through
paths
and
tokyo's
down
to
the
Sumner
and
Callahan
tunnels.
That
roadway
was
the
first
insult
to
East
Boston.
It
rained
that
used
to
be
the
pushpot
market
in
East
Boston.
They
cut
the
city
in
half.
D
Those
of
you
know
that
would
know
that
there
are
two
Paris
streets
to
Liverpool
streets
to
London
streets
because
they
were
ripping
off
by
that
Antonio's
vision
was
to
broaden
this
ringways
put
those
ramps
on
the
ground
and
reconnect
these
Boston.
It's
something
that
inspired
Mary
Ellen,
so
Mary
Ellen.
This
is
a
rally
to
organize
the
prolific.
B
B
She
was
a
fighter
for
the
for
equality
and
civil
rights
and
she
was
a
strong
and
independent
woman,
and
you
know,
I
saw
I,
saw
a
guest
wearing
a
t-shirt
that
resonated
with
me
the
t-shirt,
red
well-behaved
women
rarely
make
history
and
what
a
perfect
teacher
to
be
wearing
today
in
honor
of
Mary
Ellen-
and
you
know
she
instilled
those
values
in
her
family,
her
sister
Eleanor,
her
goddaughter,
my
cousin
Rebecca
Markey
Lynn's,
strong,
independent
women
was
Mary.
Just
she
inspired
people.
B
She
had
such
an
amazing
way,
another
one
of
those
strong,
independent
women,
another
one
of
those
fighters,
someone
who
was
in
the
thick
of
things
with
auntie
Mary
and
so
many
other
community
activists
to
help
deliver
this
Greenway,
and
so
many
other
important
projects
for
our
neighborhood
and
our
city
was
vetas,
Valerie,
Burns
and
Valerie
I'm.
So
happy
to
see
you
here
today
and
I
want
everyone
to
join
me
in
welcoming
Valerie
burns
for
some
remarks.
F
Good
afternoon,
everyone
I'm
gonna
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
Greenway
just
to
give
you
a
sense
of
the
place
that
Mary
really
worked
so
hard
for
in
these
last
thirty
years,
and
I'm
kind
of
the
newcomer
I've
only
been
working
about
thirty
years.
So
as
people
have
given
you
a
sense
of
Mary's
life,
we've
been
working,
we
work
together
since
about
1990
and
I,
don't
think
I
ever
met.
F
Anyone
who
had
more
hope
and
more
faith
in
what
could
be
possible
than
Mariana
and
I
never
met
anyone
so
strategic
in
trying
to
make
that
change.
Weren't
we
lucky
in
1990
when
a
national
foundation
was
looking
for
ideas
for
new
parks
and
cities
across
the
country.
I
think
it
was
Karen
that
suggested
that
I
talked
to
Mary
Ellen
about
the
idea
of
the
old
freight
tracks
that
once
served
the
pair's.
The
idea
that
the
tracks
could
connect
the
very
new
Pierce,
Park
Constitution
beach
and
Belmarsh
in
a
green
corridor
was
a
big
vision.
F
Mary
Ellen
knew
East,
Boston,
loves
its
parks
and
still
mourn
parks
that
were
lost
and
she
knew
that
this
idea
was
not
new
East
Boston
advocates
had
considered
it
for
years,
and
now
they
would
have
resources
if
we
could
get
funded
with
a
compelling
group
of
support,
letters
and
you've
heard
about
Mary
Ellen's
letters,
she
wrote
the
best
letters
we
received
the
grant
to
start
planning.
We
were
on
our
way
for
the
idea
to
work.
F
Mary
Ellen
knew
that
it
needed
a
group
of
residents
to
lead
the
idea
into
City
Hall
leave
the
idea
into
the
state
and
with
Massport
a
general
invitation
of
for
people
interested
in
the
idea
went
out
in
East
Boston
Mary
Ellen
called
on
her
networks.
That
group
and
with
meetings
open
to
all
called
the
Greenway
council,
came
together
in
19
for
all
volunteers
and
his
working
still.
In
fact,
they
met
last
Thursday
with
Karen,
Madalena
and
Patti.
F
Don't
worry
as
Mary
Ellen
successes
year
after
year,
Mary
Ellen
chaired
the
monthly
council
meetings
first
attending
herself
and
then
when
she
could
no
longer
travel
from
a
speakerphone
commanding
the
room.
Mary
Ellen
could
really
run
a
meeting
and
I've
learned
so
much
from
her
well,
some
have
been
working
for
the
Greenway
since
the
first
council
meeting
many
have
joined
as
East.
F
Boston
has
grown
and
changed
over
the
years,
but
I
have
to
mention
that
not
everyone
who
started
with
us
is
still
on
the
journey
with
us,
I
think
of
Marty
Coughlin
and
rose
to
Maury
as
two
people
that
were
there
at
the
very
beginning
and
now
Mary
Ellen
has
joined
them.
It
was
Mary
Ellen
who
proposed
a
Friends
group,
be
incorporated
to
permanently
support
the
future
Greenway
that
was
in
2000
before
there
was
a
Greenway.
F
F
The
ribbon
was
cut
in
2002
and
we
incorporated
a
friend's
group
in
2000
showing
the
potential
of
continuing
the
Greenway
as
a
walking
and
biking
connection
from
across
these
Boston
to
the
harbor,
as
the
first
section
was
being
built,
Mary
Ellen,
our
strategists
knew
that
the
key
piece
could
fall
into
place
with
the
third
harbor
tunnel,
bringing
the
possibility
of
significant
community
benefit
by
2:07.
The
Greenway
extended
through.
F
What's
now
Bremen
Street
Park,
all
built
by
the
Big
Dig
and
now
owned
and
managed
by
mass
port,
and
you
all
must
know
that
if
the
Greenway
made
progress,
it
did
because
Mary
Ellen
was
the
phone
writing
notes,
sending
letters
working
with
elected
officials
and
agency
staff.
She
could
be
persuasive,
smart
funny
and
always
charming.
She
was
the
green
waste,
not
so
secret
ingredient.
F
The
last
piece
of
the
Greenway
in
place
now
is
the
extension
at
the
end
of
the
edge
of
the
airport
past
Wood
Island
March
2
Constitution
Beach,
how
Mary
Ellen
loved
the
challenge
of
this
section,
taking
all
her
political
skill
and
with
her
very
good
partner
in
planning,
Chris
Marquis
in
addition
to
mass
port
and
the
city.
This
section
involved
the
MBTA
and
a
new
group
of
neighbors.
F
She
was
so
delighted
to
be
there
in
2016
for
the
ribbon-cutting
made
possible
with
the
kind
assistant
of
a
massport
golf
cart,
but
Mary
Ellen
wasn't
done
so
we're
not
done
absolutely
not.
The
goal
was
to
get
to
Belle
Isle.
How
could
we
develop
a
plan
to
show
the
route
she
asked?
She
was
in
the
midst
of
thinking
about
that
final
leg
when
she
was
stopped
almost
in
mid-sentence
in
March.
F
If
there
is
one
thing,
Mary
Ellen
taught
me
on
on
this
almost
thirty
year
journey.
It's
the
power
of
saying
thank
you.
We
heard
her
thanked
each
of
the
agency
staff,
elected
officials,
police
offices,
whoever
would
come
to
council
meetings
over
the
years.
Her
very
effective
comments
at
public
meetings
often
began
with
a
thank
him
to
whoever
was
conducting
the
hearing
and
her
handwritten
notes,
which
we've
heard
about
were
legendary
and
treasured.
F
So
in
her
tradition,
my
thanks
to
all
of
you
who
come
here
today
who
believe
in
the
Greenway
who
attend
meetings
who
write
letters
who
make
policy
who
helped
to
clean
and
plant
who
introduced
the
Greenway
to
new
people
and
who
worked
to
make
today's
renaming
possible
now
I
think
of
today,
and
we
all
know
Miriam.
This
would
not
have
been
her
choice,
I
think
of
today
as
our
collective.
Thank
you
to
Mary
Ellen
and
she
understood
thank
yous,
so
I
think
she'll.
Forgive
us
Nick
next
spring
they'll
be
a
living.
F
B
B
B
We
all
know
that
Mary
Ellen
was
Irish
and
she
was
very
proud
of
that.
She
was
also
Italian
by
association,
but
in
her
memory
and
in
her
honor,
we
have
a
couple
of
special
things
to
share
with
you.
Today
we
have
an
Irish
fiddle
er,
who
has
joined
us,
and
we
also
will
also
have
some
Irish
step-dancing
by
the
woods
school
of
Irish,
dance
and
I.
Believe
now
there
right
Karen.
Are
they
here.
F
G
B
They
get
ready.
Why
don't?
We
have
a
wonderful
partner
in
government,
good
friend
to
East
Boston,
who
was
another
individual
that
when
we
called
him-
and
we
gave
him
the
idea
about
renaming
this
park
after
Mary
Ellen
mayor
Walsh
immediately
said:
let's
get
this
done
mayor.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Welcome
to
mayor
Marty,
Walsh.
H
Thank
you
very
much
Adrienne
and
to
the
family
and
friends,
I'm
Mary
Ellen,
welcome
and
thank
you
for
being
here
today
to
meryln's
Bravo.
Thank
you
for
hiding
yourself
appreciate
that
he's
here
as
well.
That's
why
a
team
at
the
Parks
Department,
Commissioner,
Ryan
woods
to
the
Jeffries
point,
Neighborhood
Association
to
all
the
residents
of
East
Boston
to
the
Friends
of
East,
Boston,
Greenway,
swal,
local
elected
leaders
to
our
past
leaders,
who
led
us
in
so
many
different
ways
to
the
the
Irish
that
dance
is
coming
up
here
in
a
minute
and
the
musician.
H
Thank
you
very
much.
You
know.
I
come
to
a
lot
of
naming
dedication
ceremonies
as
mayor
and
before
that
is
a
representative
and
what
what
I
love
the
most
is.
When
we
celebrate
and
remember
our
own,
you
know
oftentimes
what
we
put
it.
We
put
heroes
and
people
we
dedicate
things
after
it's
a
big
figure,
political
figure,
sports
figure
and
those
are
nice.
But
when
we,
when
we
recognize
a
great
Bostonian
like
Mary
Ellen
with
the
Welsh
who
loves
her
community
well
hard,
that's
really
what
makes
our
neighborhoods
so
special.
H
That's
what
makes
this
neighborhood
here
so
special
as
a
teacher
as
a
mentor
as
an
activist,
she
made
a
big
difference
in
so
many
people's
lives,
which
is
amazing.
Her
legacy
certainly
will
live
on
nice
box
and
forever,
even
if
we
didn't
name
this
path
after
her,
her
memory
would
live
on,
but
the
fact
that
that's
happening
today,
it's
a
reminder
to
the
generations,
are
going
to
come
after
all
of
us
here.
Mary
Ellen
was
a
kind
soul
who
made
time
for
everyone.
H
She
lived
her
life
with
dignity
and
grace
and
humor
she
stood
up.
What
was
right,
Valerie
talked
about
it,
I
know.
In
my
side
the
city
were
when,
when
we're
talking
about
doing
the
punch
at
Greenway
walking
the
walks
over
in
our
area,
those
meetings
always
weren't
open
with
open
arms
welcomed
with
open
arms.
There's
always
somebody
in
the
room
saying
how's
it
gonna
happen.
What's
gonna
be,
and
it
was
a
vision
and
the
vision
wasn't
it
wasn't
gonna
happen
immediately.
H
It
wasn't
like
you're
planning
a
development
way
and
the
funding
was
there
and
the
financing
was
then
was
simple
where
you
clear
the
site.
Something
like
this
takes
a
lot
of
time
and
effort
and
a
lot
of
love
and
dedication
by
people
in
the
community.
She
represented
the
best
values
for
the
City
of
Austin
dedicated
the
Greenway
to
Mary.
Ellen
is
a
perfect
way
to
remember
this
local
legend
and
that's
exactly
what
she
is
she's,
a
local
legend.
H
She
wanted
everyone,
as
Valerie
mentioned,
they
heard
Valerie
talking
in
one
everyone,
especially
our
kids,
have
access
to
the
parks
to
green
space
to
our
waterfront.
She
helped
make
the
Greenway
what
it
is
today.
We
also
honor
Mary
Ellen's
legacy
by
supporting
the
car
that
she
cared
for
by
protecting
our
environment,
giving
our
kids
more
support
in
school
all
year,
long
building,
affordable
housing,
welcoming
immigrants,
building
a
more
comprehensive,
inclusive
world.
That's
that's
what
we
should
be
standing
for
today
and
that's
what
she
stood
for.
H
These
are
the
things
that
Mary
Ellen
fought
for
all
her
life
she's,
certainly
somebody
that
we
should
all
hold
up
and
want
to
emulate
as
a
person
as
an
activist
as
an
elected
official
on
myself
and
councilor
Edwards,
and
send
the
bond
kori
in
Adrianne
and
all
the
elected
officials,
that's
what
we
should
be
doing.
Was
she
looking
up
and
living
up
to
what
her
values
were
in
our
Mary
Ellen
spirit
will
live
here
on
the
Greenway
and
throughout
the
neighborhood.
H
She
loved
I
want
to
thank
everyone
for
all
of
you
playing
an
active
role
in
your
community
and
helping
honor
this
very
special
person
in
a
very
special
way
when
we
think
about
heroes,
we
think
about
who
our
true
heroes
on
and
there's
many
of
them,
Mary
Ellen
wealth
is
at
the
top
of
that
list.
Thank
you.
B
B
B
So
I
mentioned
earlier
that
I
partnered
with
senator
bond
Cory
to
deliver
an
amendment
in
this
pet
in
the
state
budget
that
we
just
passed
to
the
tune
of
$100,000
to
start
to
lay
the
foundation
for
what
Valerie
was
talking
about
right.
The
ultimate
goal
was
always
to
get
this
green
way
to
bail
out
marsh
well
with
the
budget
amendment
that
we
were
able
to
secure
we're.
I
Thank
You
Adrian,
and
what
a
beautiful
day
it
is
here
today,
not
just
the
weather,
but
the
people
we
share
it
with
the
stories
we
certainly
shared
it
with
from
Roberta
and
Valerie
and
Fred.
You
know
it's
a
wonderful
legacy
and
that's
what
we're
here
to
celebrate
today
is
the
legacy
of
Mary,
Ellen,
Welch
I,
probably
know
Mary
well
and
watch
the
the
shortest
amount
of
time
in
the
room.
So
my
speech
make
may
reflect
that.
But,
although
I
didn't
know
her
growing
up,
I
really
saw
her
work.
I
I
It
truly
is
a
legacy
now
Mary
Ellen
Welch
again
you
know
she
reached
up
to
a
lot
of
politicians
throughout
her
career
and
whispered
in
their
ears
and
I.
Never
had
that.
You
know
real
actual
whisper
I
did
receive
a
couple
notes
from
her
when
I
took
office
in
2016
and
they're
memorable
and
they're
beautifully
written
in
that
wonderful
and
in
writing
she
had,
and
she
was
always
advocating.
I
I
know
she
was
frail
at
that
time
in
2016,
but
she
was
always
advocating
and
not
having
met
her
I
remember
going
to
an
I
AG
impact
advisory
group
meeting
at
Logan
and
I
was
a
little
late
to
the
game
having
just
been
elected
but
I.
Remember,
being
in
that
room
and
hearing
people
advocate
for
projects,
and
we
went
around
the
table
literally
and
and
heard
from
everyone
and
kinda,
you
know
had
it
done,
and
then
you
heard
a
whisper
and
a
faint
voice
and
I'm
thinking
to
myself.
I
What
is
that
and
I
realized
that
this
voice
was
coming
from
a
speaker
on
the
table
and
Mary
Ellen
Welch
had
called
into
the
meeting,
and
you
know
she
might
have
been
frail
at
the
beginning.
But
as
she
spoke
on
and
spoke
on,
I
wouldn't
say
she
became
louder,
but
she
definitely
and
certainly
became
stronger
and,
as
she
was
speaking,
you
could
see
the
heads
in
the
and
the
room
stopped
to
nod
and
generations
of
advocates
that
she
truly
raised
were
in
that
room.
I
They
were
listening
to
her
and
by
the
end
of
that
meeting
she
had
the
control
of
that
room
and
everyone
was
agreeing
with
Perry
Alan
Welch
and
what
should
be
seen
in
the
menu
of
options
to
come
out
of.
You
know
that
community
benefit
package
from
a
sport,
and
you
know
it
really
is
the
legacy
of
her.
It's.
What
we
celebrate
here
today
and
seeing
you
know
her
legacy
really
goes
beyond
you
know.
Just
this
Park
her
legacy
goes
to
you
know.
I
Organizations
like
Noah
and
her
legacy
is
whenever
a
family
gets
a
house
in
this
community
through
nowhere,
that's
her
legacy.
Her
legacy
extends
to
environmental.
You
know
advocacy
from
Belle
Isle
much
all
the
way
up
to
here
and
anytime.
Anyone
enjoys
any
park
or
any
skating
rink
in
East
Boston.
That
is
her
legacy
and
her
legacy
extends
to
senior
and
her
advocacy
on
their
behalf
and
whenever
is
seen
against
a
benefit
from
the
city
or
state.
That
really
is
the
legacy,
but
our
true
and
best
legacy
is
what
I'm
looking
at
here.
I
Her
legacy
is
a
representative
like
Adrienne,
Mauro
Mauro
and
a
family
member,
the
families
of
the
lenses,
the
Marquis,
the
caves,
the
models,
poor
activists
for
years
and
generations
to
come
in
this
community.
That's
really
her
true
legacy
and
I
read
when
Mary
Ellen
wild
too
passed
away
back
in
March
many
people
wrote
testimonials
to
her
and
I
guess
she
was
often
quoted,
and
you
know
one
of
the
quotations
she
said
was.
You
know
it's,
it's
not
the
people
that
follow
the
elected
leaders.
It's
the
elected
leaders
that
followed
the
people.
I
You
know
so
I
just
want
to
thank
you
all
and
her
family
and
extended
family
and
her
sister
and
her
brother
for
sharing
her
with
this
community,
and
it
sounds
like
you
didn't,
really
have
a
chick,
you
know
a
say
in
it,
but
she
was
gonna.
Do
it
no
matter
what
it
was,
but
really
on
behalf
of
a
grateful
community
on
behalf
of
a
grateful,
City
and
state
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
and
I
will
follow
you
guys
in
her
legacy,
for
as
long
as
I'm
able.
Thank
you.
B
B
J
This
is
a
response
actually
to
a
letter,
so
I'm
going
to
read
part
of
a
letter.
I
was
writing
to
Mary.
Dear
Mary
I
wanted
to
reply
to
your
last
letter.
You
sent
me
out
as
a
city,
councilor
I
assumed
you'd
still
be
here
and
that
we
could
finally
meet.
We've
spoken
on
the
phone
over
the
years.
We've
written
letters
to
each
other
over
the
years,
but
I
never
got
to
hug
you.
J
You
know
me
before
I
knew
me
and
what
I
could
do
you
thought
you
saw
stood
in
me
and
saw
what
this
amazing
neighborhood
will
be
for
generations
before
I
could
see
it
I've
learned
so
much
from
you
from
Fred
from
Joe
Aiello
from
Roberta
from
Karen
and
I'm
forever.
Inspired
I
tell
you
Mary
the
more
things
change
the
more
they
stay,
the
same
I'm
city,
councilor
and
there's
a
lot
on
our
plate
here.
Just
a
lot
going
on
and
he's
Boston.
J
I
didn't
think
about
all
of
the
things
that
are
changing
and
know
that
you
were
already
part
of
those
conversations.
We
have
development.
We
have
opioid
issues,
we're
growing
at
a
pace
that
seems
so
fast
communities
changing.
Sometimes
every
month,
traffic
still
problem
planes
still
problem,
and
so
sometimes
I
go
to
sleep.
Try
to
go
to
sleep
and
I.
Have
a
headache,
and
the
only
thing
I
can
do
is
ask
myself
what
would
Mary
do?
J
What
would
she
do?
We
continue
to
rally.
We
continue
to
organize
and
we
continue
to
move,
but
we
can
say
for
myself
at
least
I
haven't
quite
mastered
that
ability
to
deliver
an
uppercut
with
one
hand
and
then
I'll
have
to
mass
board
or
to
whoever
and
then
turn
around
and
make
sure
she
got
the
benefits
for
our
community
with
the
other.
J
She
was
especially
talented,
not
just
behind
the
scenes,
but
on
the
phone
and
the
letters
and
her
ability
to
move
people
in
ways
that
they
didn't
know
that
they
could
move
not
quite
there.
Yet
me,
Adrian
and
Joe
were
working
on
it
when
I
got
the
call
that
you
had
passed.
I
took
a
moment,
cried
deeply
and
then
I
called
up
your
friend,
Mel
King.
J
J
We
are
who
we've
been
waiting
for
and
that's
your
legacy
marry
for
women
for
immigrants,
people
color,
poor
people,
working-class
people-
we
were
all
inspired
by
Mary
it
all
Mary
did
was
hold
up
a
mirror
to
us,
so
we
could
see
ourselves
and
see
our
own
power.
This
plaque
is
a
mirror.
This
plaque
is
a
history
lesson.
J
Yes,
yes,
Marianne
Bert,
Willie,
aware
about
the
parking
issue
on
Webster
Street
I'm,
fully
aware
of
how
upset
you
are
Mary.
You
never
held
back
even
when
you
were
telling
me
how
good
I
was
you're.
Also
telling
me
where
I
needed
improvement,
I
appreciate
that
that's
how
people
grow
so
Mary
I'll,
conclude:
I'll,
see
you
soon
every
child
in
every
community
meeting
and
in
every
fight
to
keep
our
Blessed
East
Boston
a
true
neighborhood
I'll,
see
you
soon
Mary
yours,
truly
lyddie.
B
B
B
This
is
the
blessing
blessing.
May
the
road
rise
up
to
meet
you
may
the
road
rise
up
to
meet
you?
May
the
wind
be
always
at
your
back.
May
the
Sun
Shine
warm
upon
your
face.
The
rains
fall
soft
upon
your
fields
and
until
we
meet
again
may
God
hold
you
in
the
palm
of
his
hand,
god
bless
and
love
a
lot.
Remarry.