Springfield Athletic Turf Field Groundbreaking Remarks

Good Morning, Springfield!  It truly is a wonderful morning and a great start to the day.

First, I would like to recognize a number of officials from the Schools and Township:

Board of Education President Pat Venezia, Vice President Steven Wolcott, Board of Education Members Anthony Delia, Steven Friedman, Brian Kass, Scott Samansky and Scott Silverstein, as well as, Jacqueline Shanes & Irwin Sablosky who both served as the Board representatives to the Springfield Athletic Turf Field Working Group and Superintendent Michael Davino and Business Administrator Matt Clarke.  Township Committee members Committeeman David Amlen, and Committeeman Marc Krauss along with Committeeman Rich Huber & Deputy Mayor Jerry Fernandez who both served as the Township representatives to the Springfield Athletic Turf Field Working Group.

I’d also like to thank several people from the Township who helped us:

Township Administrator Anthony Cancro, Clerk Linda Donnelly, Township Engineer Todd Hay, Assistant Township Engineer Sam Mardini, CFO Michael Quick and Township Attorney Jeff Lehrer.

Words can’t describe this feeling, but I feel as though I don’t need to because I’m sure it’s shared by everyone here today.  This has been a dream that is long overdue!  There were many obstacles along the way and there have been many efforts to get to this point year after year.  But finally, the Springfield Board of Education and the Township Committee are taking real, tangible steps to making that dream a reality today.

Achieving this goal would not have been possible without the determination and relentless willpower of dedicated community members – the Springfield Athletic Turf Foundation and all of you!

This groundbreaking is a textbook example of shared services and partnership between two government entities, Springfield Public Schools and the Township of Springfield.

It is a momentous occasion – historic, really!

So I want to take a moment to recognize someone – someone that you may know personally or maybe, you’ve seen his military uniform in the display case as you entered the hallways of Jonathan Dayton High School.  That gentleman is Springfield’s war hero – Ray Schramm.

Ray is here with us today.  He stood on this ground nearly 80 years ago on a day much like today.  It was in the 1930s that Ray was one of many who witnessed another significant groundbreaking – one that has made an impact on all of our lives – the groundbreaking of Jonathan Dayton High School in the late 1930s.  I’m sure at that time there were proponents and opponents to such a massive undertaking, but we look back on that decision and think of the impact it has had on thousands and thousands of graduates who have gone on to be successful, left their mark on the world, raised beautiful families and like Ray, answered the call to service, became heroes, and returned to Springfield – a place we’re proud to call home.

This athletic turf field project will serve to benefit the entire community!  It will undoubtedly have a huge positive impact on our schools, our infrastructure and our economic health.  This field represents so much for our Township – it will be a part of the life-changing experiences and memories of thousands of more students who will go into the world to shape it in their own unique way.

I’m thrilled to be a part of this and I thank you all for giving us the opportunity to serve you and better our beloved town.  God bless America!