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From YouTube: DJ Simmonds Playground Rededication Ceremony
Description
Mayor Walsh, Police Commissioner Gross and the community gather in Harambee Park to rededicate the playground to Officer Dennis "D.J." Simmonds. Officer Simmonds died of injuries sustained while serving during the events of the 2014 Boston Marathon Bombings.
A
A
B
A
C
C
Heavenly
Father
gracious
Lord,
we
come
before
you
humbly
and
we
come
with
reverence.
We
ask
your
blessing
this
afternoon
as
we
dedicate
this.
This
playground,
this
Park
a
place
which,
where
children,
the
future
of
our
nation,
will
play
in
Rome
made
safer
and
freer,
but
a
sacrifice
of
sergeant
Dennis
Simmons
dj2,
whom
it
is
dedicated.
We
realized
that
his
sacrifice
exceeds
that
of
an
area
or
city,
but
that
which
was
made
unto
a
nation.
C
Let
his
courage
and
honor
be
a
reminder
to
us
all
that
we
are
our
brother's
keeper.
This
playground
will
outlast
us
all
and
so
too,
for
the
community
and
those
he
served
with.
Because
of
this
day
will
the
memory
of
Dennis
Simmons,
for
whom
it
is
named?
We
pray
with
a
sense
of
strength
for
today
and
hope
for
tomorrow,
so
bless
this
park,
and
this
playground
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
in
honor
of
sergeant
Simmons,
maybe
a
safe
haven
watched
over
by
heavenly
hosts.
C
May
it
be
filled
with
laughter,
peace
and
happiness
where
dreams
I
had
in
love
and
joy
abounds
bless
the
Simmons
family,
never
in
vain,
as
a
angel
salute
their
beloved
on
our
behalf.
Furthermore,
bless
all
the
men
and
women
of
the
Boston
Police
Department
mayor
Walsh
and
Commissioner
Groff,
family
and
friends,
and
with
respect
to
any
other
faiths
that
may
be
here.
It
is
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
that
I
pray
amen.
A
Thank
You
Reverend,
my
name
is
Chris
cook
I'm,
the
parks
Commissioner
for
the
city
of
Boston,
in
that
role,
I
also
serve
as
the
chief
of
energy
environment
and
open
space
and
I,
don't
get
to
say
this
every
day.
But,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
welcome
to
a
2.7
million
dollar
renovation
of
this
beautiful
playground.
A
This
is
an
amazing
investment
and
it's
in
line
with
the
mayor's
imagine
Boston
30
plans
till
we
make
sure
that
these
playgrounds
are
accessible
to
all
communities
and
that
we
make
these
investments
citywide.
We
are
the
recipients
at
the
parks
department,
the
largest
parks
department
budget
in
history,
four
years
in
a
row
and
that's
because
of
Martin
J
Walsh.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
the
mayor
of
Boston
Martin,
J,
Walsh,.
D
Thank
you,
Chris
and
I
want
to
thank
the
parks
department
for
an
incredible
job
here.
This
is
a
beautiful
park
and
I
know
that
those
of
you
that
remember
this
area
before
the
park
was
built.
It
certainly
did
not
look
like
this
and
I
want
to
let
the
young
people
know
this
is.
This
is
for
you
to
make
sure
you
have
a
good,
safe
place
to
play
and
we're
not
done
here.
We're
gonna,
continue
to
go
all
the
way
down
and
continue
to
renovate
this
beautiful
Park.
D
So
thank
you
very
much
to
all
of
you
to
Commissioner
for
us
in
the
Boston
Police
Department.
Thank
you
for
your
service
to
our
city,
to
the
city,
counselors
that
are
here
and
all
the
elected
officials.
This
is
a
truly
a
united
effort
for
all
of
us
to
be
able
to
do.
We
do
here
and
like
to
introduce
a
few.
D
The
president
of
our
City
Council
Andre
Campbell's
with
us
Thank
You,
president
Campbell,
the
citywide
City
Council
and
Easter
sabe
George
Thank
You
Council,
George,
citywide,
City,
Council,
Michael,
Flaherty,
Thank,
You,
council,
clarity
from
the
Statehouse
state
representative,
Russell
Holmes,
with
us
Thank
You
state,
wherever
thinner
poems
to
all
the
community
people,
the
clergy.
The
folks
that
are
here
I
want
to
thank
you
for
being
here,
the
family
of
friends
of
sergeant
Simmons.
Thank
you
as
well
to
DJ's
mom
and
dad
and
sister
Nicole
and
and
fiance
Rashad.
D
D
Today
we
celebrate
new
beginnings,
a
beautiful
new
playground
that
will
bring
a
community
together
for
generations,
and
we
remember
a
beautiful
soul,
a
self
protector
of
Boston
hero,
sergeant,
Simmons,
embodied
the
highest
values
of
our
deepest
bonds
and
on
marathon
tribute
in
2014
I
said
in
the
darkest
hours
of
the
night.
We
look
to
the
first
responders,
who
always
a
beacon
of
hope
of
courage
of
heart.
We
looked
at
DJ
Simmons
in
the
moment
of
great
danger,
sergeant
Simmons,
never
hesitated.
D
He
heard
the
call
to
service
like
many
of
the
officers
that
are
here
today,
his
brothers
and
sisters
that
are
standing
here
today
in
this
park
with
us
like,
like
he
did
all
of
you
answer
the
call
he
always
protected
his
community.
It
was
true
on
April,
15
2013,
and
it
was
true.
Every
single
day
of
his
career
sergeant,
Simmons
was
an
outstanding
officer.
He
worked
to
make
our
neighborhood
safer,
make
our
city
better.
He
mented
kids
and
helped
him
find
and
put
them
on
the
right
path.
D
Throughout
his
work
on
the
youth
violence,
Strike
Force,
he
made
a
powerful
difference
in
so
many
different
lives.
Sergeant
Simmons
went
above
and
beyond,
and
that's
why
he
answered
some
of
the
some
of
the
highest
honors
in
the
Boston
Police
Department
was
a
war
some
of
the
highest
honors.
He
was
even
recognized
by
President,
Obama
and
I'm,
proud.
Now
that
this
beautiful
new
playground
will
be
his
name
as
well.
This
is
the
place
that
will
bring
the
neighborhood
together.
D
It's
a
place
for
all
ages,
it's
accessible
for
people
of
all
abilities,
it's
a
place
where
kids
and
families
will
make
their
memories
and
I
would
think
that
sergeant.
Simmons
would
be
proud
of
this
place.
I
want
to
thank
everyone
who
made
this
beautiful
playground
a
reality.
The
Boston
Parks
Department,
the
Boston
Police
Department,
the
City
Council,
the
House
of
Representatives,
the
Simmons
family,
friends
and
neighbors
sergeant
Simmons
of
spirit
and
legacy
will
live
on
forever.
We
will
never
forget
his
brave
service.
D
A
Thank
you
so
much
Marin
just
to
let
you
know
that
we're
not
done
here
we're
gonna,
be
part
of
a
second
phase
to
this
Park.
An
additional
3.5
million
dollars
is
going
to
be
invested
into
Harambee
Park
to
make
sure
that
we
have
recreational
fields
to
match
this
extraordinary
playground.
I
have
to
say
thank
you
to
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
and
in
particular
the
Massachusetts
Executive
Office
of
Energy
and
Environmental
Affairs,
who
contributed
a
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
park
grant
to
this
project.
A
The
Parks
Department
provides
access,
the
Parks
Department
provides
planning
and
provides
equity,
but
if
we're
honest,
the
people
who
keep
us
safe
in
our
open
spaces
and
the
people
who
make
sure
that
our
kids
have
a
safe
place
to
play
is
the
Boston
Police
Department,
and
we
have
an
extraordinary
commissioner.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
please
welcome
the
Commissioner
of
Boston
Police
Department
Willie
gross.
E
Good
afternoon,
everyone,
thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
being
here
now.
You
just
heard
the
mere
talk
about
answering
the
call,
but
let's
hear
for
the
mayor,
he
answered
the
call
when
this
tenacious
woman
right
there,
you
too
my
brother,
but
your
wife
is
incredible.
She
wanted
her
great
son,
your
son,
your
brother,
your
nephew,
your
grandson
to
be
promoted
to
sergeant
and
she
didn't
give
up
and
the
person
that
answered
the
call
on
that
that
gave
the
permission
his
mayor
Walsh.
He
answered
the
call.
E
You
heard
the
mention
of
our
state
and
local
elected.
They
answered
a
call
to
we
care
about
our
community
and
we
care
about
everybody
in
this
community
and
behalf
of
the
Boston
Police
Department.
Your
son
will
never
be
forgotten.
The
good
sergeant
is
here
right
here
in
our
heart
and
we
will
always
answer
the
call
on
his
behalf.
E
Listen
folks.
You
can
hear
the
laughter
of
the
children
behind
you
and
you
can
see
them
plain.
That
is
positive,
positive.
That
came
out
of
a
negative,
a
positive
something
that
this
community
needs
a
positive
that
will
always
be
remembered
in
the
remembrance
of
sergeant
Simmons.
You
all
had
something
to
do
with
this
today,
especially
the
seniors.
Thank
you
for
paving
the
way,
so
we
could
be
here
in
this
capacity
and
so
that
you
could
see
your
grandson.
E
When
folks
are
having
a
hard
day
and
they
want
a
little
peace
and
they
want
to
see
their
children
smile,
they
want
to
see
their
children
laugh.
They
will
come
right
to
this
park
or
sergeant
Simmons,
or
they
can
have
some
solace
and
remember
that
heroes,
it's
more
than
just
the
actions
when
we're
at
work,
but
the
actions
when
you're
off
duty,
like
when
you're
volunteering
with
kids
when
you're
helping
out
seniors
and
when
you're
representing
your
family
well
into
the
Simmons
family.
E
Your
family
has
made
the
ultimate
sacrifice,
but
we
are
showing
you
the
ultimate
love
and
the
remembrance
of
the
good
sergeant.
So
god
bless
you
all
and
let's
all
take
this
message
forward.
Folks.
This
is
about
peace,
this
is
about
the
community.
So
thank
you.
Thank
you
all
to
the
youth
violence
strike
force
and
continue
to
do
a
great
job.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
and
God
bless.
Everyone.
A
Thank
You,
commissioner,
wonderful
design
requires
wonderful
designers.
We
have
an
extraordinary
project
manager
who
worked
on
this
project
for
the
parks
department.
Kathy
Baker
Eclipse
are
very
grateful
to
her
for
joining
this
effort
want
to
thank
Weston
Sampson,
who
did
this
beautiful
design
and,
of
course,
want
to
thank
Fleming
construction,
who
was
out
here
every
day
to
make
sure
that
we
hit
our
targets
very
grateful
to
their
work
as
we're
surrounded
by
those
who
serve
were
reminded
constantly
that
there
are
some
families
who
have
to
serve
more
than
others.
F
F
It
is
a
reminder
that
my
brother
will
never
be
forgotten
when
I
first
heard
that
they
were
building
his
park
in
my
brother's
memory.
My
heart
exploded
for
joy.
My
brother
and
I
grew
up
with
the
strong
foundation
based
off
of
academics
and
athletics,
and
we
always
had
a
safe
place
to
play.
So
it's
only
right
that
more
children
get
that
opportunity
when
I
think
that
about
all
that
has
been
done
in
my
brother's
legacy,
he
would
be
most
excited
about
this
accomplishment
in
his
honor.
F
F
That
will
play
here
just
know
that
my
big
brother
DJ
he's
now
your
big
brother
too.
He
will
be
here
to
protect
you,
while
you
play
be
sure
that
you
never
feel
alone
and
to
be
sure
that
you
never
have
to
fear
another
bully
as
a
child.
This
is
DJ's
playground
and
he
will
always
protect
you
here,
just
as
he
always
protected
me.
F
F
A
G
G
G
Let's
bow
our
heads
and
you
can
keep
your
eyes
open
because
still
outside,
where
he
respects
to
all
faith,
traditions,
father.
We
thank
you
for
this
wonderful
gathering.
We
thank
you
Lord
God,
for
allowing
us
to
come
together
as
a
community
oftentimes
Lord
we're
saddened
by
the
negative
news
that
we
hear
from
day
to
day
from
week
to
week,
but
father
we
Lord,
wanted
to
stop
and
pause
and
reflect
on
the
life
of
a
young
man
that
was
very
altruistic
and
his
approach
to
community
involvement.
G
He
was
very
concerned
about
being
a
mentor
to
that
young
boy
that
young
one
who
seemed
to
be
Lord,
not
that
beyond
not
being
able
to
get
on
the
right
track,
but
father
we
thank
you
Lord.
As
we
remember
Lord
sergeant
Simmons.
We
pray
that
you
would
keep
us
alive
forever
being
mindful
and
cognizant
of
all
the
things
that
he
has
Lord
allowed
himself
to
do
through
the
lives
of
others
who
he
has
touched
father.
G
We
thank
you
Lord
for
this
park
that
would
Lord
leave
an
indelible
mark
upon
the
lives
of
the
people
that
will
come
through
this
park
and
leaving
an
indelible
mark
upon
the
city
of
Boston.
We
pray
that
you
continue
to
uplift.
Our
city
rebuke
live
God,
any
negativity,
let
the
peace
of
God
rule
and
reign
and
I
pray
as
we
think
about
the
life
and
the
legacy
of
sergeant
Simmons.
G
We'll
always
be
mindful
that
we
are
supposed
to
be
each
one
another's
keeper
and
that
we'll
supposed
to
be
concerned
about
the
Lord,
our
brothers
concerned
about
our
sisters
from
various
ethnicities,
from
various
backgrounds
and
for
various
laws
opinions.
We
pray
that
you
will
allow
this
to
be
an
oasis
in
the
middle
of
the
city
of
Boston
to
be
a
beacon
light
of
hope
in
the
and
there's
a
piece
of
God
with
will
reverberate
throughout
Lord
this
Park
and
this
community
and
as
a
children
come
together
to
play.
G
Let
them
always
always
be
mindful
of
their
this
part
being
named
in
the
memory
of
a
man
who
loved
his
family
loved
this
community
and
loved
his
profession
dearly.
We
thank
you,
and
we
will
not
forget
his
altruism,
will
not
forget.
His
sacrifice
will
not
forget
his
Lord
concern
and
devotion
towards
others.
We
ask
that
your
choices
blessings
be
upon
each
one
of
us
as
we
long
recognize
he's
gone
in
the
natural,
but
he's
here
with
us
in
the
spirit,
and
he
will
never
never
ever
be
forgotten.
Thank
you
for
the
memory
of
sergeant
Simmons.