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Ad hoc committee to pursue memorial park plans

Date: 7/20/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW On May 18, voters who turned out for the Annual Town Meeting supported a warrant article that donated land to Sgt. Mark Ecker so Homes For Our Troops would have a place to build a new home for him.

With Ecker's passing arose questions about what would happen to that land.

The property, which equals less than an acre, is still town property, according to Selectman Jim Driscoll.

"The land never got deeded to [Ecker]," Driscoll explained at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on July 14. The state had yet to approve the property transfer when Ecker passed away on July 10.

"The town got together in a way that's rarely seen [to support Ecker]," Driscoll stated. "I want to dedicate that land as a memorial park to him."

The land is about 30,000 square feet and is located on Arch Street.

Driscoll suggested that an ad hoc committee be put together to pursue his idea of establishing a memorial park. He said this committee would be comprised of one member from the Board of Public Works, the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen and an appointee from the Ecker family.

Jack Villamaino, chair of the Board of Selectmen, nominated Driscoll to be the representative of the selectmen, and his motion was unanimously approved.

"I think it's a wonderful honor," Debra Ecker, Mark's mother, said. "It will be a way for his memory to remain in town."

Debra wanted to thank Driscoll, John Romito and all the other volunteers that worked diligently to support her son.