Another Exciting Boston Bronze and Stone Talk With Both Students and Teachers at The Lexington, MA Diamond Middle School

Always a pleasure to have lunch and give a talk to the students and staff at Diamond Middle School in Lexington, MA about Boston's Monuments. My yearly talk consists of a brief explanation of the many dozens of Boston's Monuments created and erected for all of us to learn about our great leaders past and present. My talk prepares these students for their yearly field trip adventure into Boston. When the Diamond School  students find and discover these historical artistic works on the streets of Boston, it is both a fun and educational experience for all.

Healthy Lunch Prepared by Ms Diane Gallagher Teacher

Yes, 80 Attentive, Inquisitive and Well Behaved Seventh Graders

My presentation and the interactive educational activities provided by the school staff, that follows my talk, reinforces these students excitement, interest and involvement about further learning of Boston's leaders, Boston's 500 year history and Boston's art and artists.

The love of learning between student and teacher is the highest of all the loves. Teaching students to learn for themselves is of the highest order as both Socrates and Plato have always said us.

Thank you for inviting me once again!

Joe Gallo

Author of "Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us"

"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us"would like to share a most wonderful Letter and Request About John F Parimino.

Just a few of John F Parimino sculptural works in Boston MA.

John F Paramino was Boston Mayor Michael James Curly's favorite sculptor for Boston, MA during the early twentieth century.

Joe Gallo Author

Commodore John Barry by John F Parimino

Declaration of Independence by John F Parimino

Marque de Lafayette by John F Parimino

Nike WWII Peace Monument John F Parimino

'Hello Mr Gallo,

My mother came out from Seattle to visit Lexington/Concord/Arlington/Boston (all the family history) and thanks to you, we were able to see a number of my grandmother's brother's pieces.

When I took her to see Paramino's sculpture of Nike (Back Bay Fens, WWII veteran's memorial), there was a crew there fixing some 70 years of wear and tear; the man in charge explained to me that the city (the mayor, i think) is re-dedicating the entire memorial.

Since my father's death a few years ago, I am the only person in New England left related to John Francis Paramino ... but his two nieces are still alive and still travel very much.

I will attend the re-dedication of course, but as with Lexington/Arlington/Concord, I would like my great aunts to be invited to be part of the ceremony.

I'd have to email the Mayor's office, I believe, to notify them but I'm afraid they will not understand my intentions here; I am poor and unknown and not looking for connections, but preserving the family history is something I've dedicated ... well, you know how much it takes to preserve history; it's a different kind of investment. 

Thanks for any advice and such.   I gotta email Sam (Bela Pratt's grand-daughter) who is a very wonderful lady and one of the few friends I have and see what she thinks too.   You two seem to know exactly what I'm thinking irregardless of the words I'm saying.

Thank you very kindly and sincerely,
Jonathan Parker Cutter'

I wrote a letter to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to include this family at the rededication of the WWII monument  designed by John F Parimino family member.


'huh, that was a lot easier than I thought.  Thank you very kindly, for a couple things actually; the book is beautiful of course but it is also incredibly useful.  Half the places we went last week I had learned about from Bronze and Stone.   To us, it's more like a reference guide to family history.  After Lexington/Concord/Arlington, I didn't know where to take my mom for her vacation; those celebrations basically occur over 3-4 days.  So we went to Cambridge for the WWII, then little Italy for the equestrian statue ... she was wondering who Cyrus Dallin was and why the Jefferson Cutter House was better known as the Cyrus Dallin Museum.  We missed the Appeal to the Great Spirit though, but that was more my fault.  Last time they visited, when dad was alive, it was the same with the State House.  "The Gallo says there should be a bas-relief on the staircase somewhere...ah, right there!"  And etc.'

Thank you very sincerely,
Jonathan Parker Cutter

"Boston Bronze and Stone Sp[eak To us" can be purchased on Amazon.com, Old North Church Gift Shoppe, Fanuel Hall Book Store Boston, MA

Homicide and The Needless Death of Our Young.

Homicide and The Needless Death of Our Young.

Garden of Peace

Government Center 
Judy Kensley McKie / Catherine Melina, Sculptors Bronze / Granite

The stone base of this monument symbolizes “Tragic Density” and the bronze Ibis ascending represents “Hope”. It was erected to honor the loss of innocent lives especially on our city streets. This serene Garden of Peace captures in bronze and stone the hopes of all who dream of living in peaceful communities, societies, and a peaceful world.

The Garden of Peace is a memorial commemorating victims of homicide and 
a living reminder of the impact of violence. 
It is a visual testament to the need for 
eliminating violence. The Garden is a symbol 
of hope for peace and renewal in our lives, 
our community, and the world.

Nancy, A Passage of Time (1978)

 
Cambridge Street 
Rick Lee, Sculptor 
Cor-Ten Steel and Stainless Steel / Granite

A personal tragedy inspired this universal symbol of sudden death that can effect any of us at any time.

The Drucker family commissioned this sculpture in honor of their deceased daughter and sister, Nancy, who was killed in a car accident in 1975. They donated the piece to the city and dedicated it on May 30th, 1978, the date of Nancy’s 28th birthday. Although the sculpture might be said to resemble an open book, it is primarily abstract. The two materials used to create it stainless steel and Cor-Ten steel create contrast in the work’s surface as the Cor-Ten half rusts with exposure to the elements, and the stainless half resists that decay. The Cor-Ten surface, then, marks the passage of time as it corrodes, alluding to our collective mortality, while the stainless element retains its sheen, as does Nancy’s memory through this memorial. 

"Boston Bonze and Stone Speak tTo Us" can be purchased at Faneuil Hall Gift Store , Old North Church Gift Store and Amazon. com

Memorial Day Boston Momuments and Statues 2013.

“In 1868, Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan issued General Order No. 11 calling for all Departments and Posts to set aside the 30Th of May as a day for remembering the sacrifices of fallen comrades, thereby beginning the celebration of Memorial Day.” (Taken from the Stone) right photo.

Thus began the birth of our Memorial Day Weekend, Boston, MA.

Numerous War memorials punctuate the parks and streets of the city of Boston with the Revolutionary Column on the State House's grounds to mention one of the first in the nation. below

The Civil War memorial 'The Soldiers and Sailors Monument" in The Boston Common by Martin Milmore commemorates all sectors of our countries sacrifice during the Civil War years.

"In honor off all veterans who served in the Armed Services of the United States in the first world war to preserve democracy and freedom. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts erects this tribute and records the peoples prayer for lasting liberty and peace."(Taken from the Bronze)

The above bronze monumental plaque by sculpture Emilius Ciampa is found in the halls of our Massascusetts State House. This memorial thanks our WWI military for their ultimate sacrifice.

The World War II Memorial on the Fenway by John F. Paramino memorializing all who gave their lives for our country defending our freedoms.

"The Massascusetts Beirut Memorial" located in Christopher Columbus Park.

"Forever remembered in stone are our soldiers who defend our American freedom. Let us all hope that no more of these monuments to the dead will ever be need once there is an end to the conflicts in the Middle East."

In the early morning hours of 23 October 1983, a truck loaded with explosives crashed through the security perimeter of the United States Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. In the explosion that followed, 241 U.S. Military personnel were killed and 80 seriously wounded. Nine of these killed were from Massachusetts. These nine young men are clearly honored here. These young people, on a mission of peace in a land stricken by violence, were killed as they slept. They are remembered here in grateful appreciation of their sacrifice on behalf of freedom.

Finally above, Boston's latest tribute and respect given to our troops who have recently sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, "The Old North Church Memorial Garden" created Rev Patricia Handloss and a committee( Jai Wei Wu, Norma Hobbs, Howaed Kaye, Christian Kulikoski, Lisa Shiller, Julliane Murphy, Andrew DeMaio, Dorothy Redmond, Brooks Brooksbank, Mailyn Kuilkonski) aand also assisted by American relatives and various religious groups who lost love ones in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars using nameless dog tags representing their fallen heros.

In addition, The Memorial was built by parishioners from Old North Church, the children from St John's School, members of the North End Community and numerous tourists who were traveling through as the memorial was being built.

Memorial Day began in Boston, "Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us" , a Boston guidebook salutes and celebrates our fallen heros through Boston's Public Monuments and Statues.