ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS

 

On All Saints and All Souls Days in my church and many others, we honor the departed, known and unknown. In addition to attending special services, some Christians include activities such as doing charitable deeds and visiting cemeteries. I took a walk in Riverside Park and paid attention.

In the park, some benches have small metal plaques expressing timeless affection and suggesting stories of the departed. Here are a few.

“Manfred Moses Tobias Sondheimer/ 1914-2016/ A grateful refugee who loved this park/ [by] His loving wife”

Who was Mr. Sondheimer? What was the story of his escape? How did he come to this park? Is his wife still alive? Few will ever know the answers to these questions. I do know that Mrs. Sondheim comes to this bench these days, though maybe not in the flesh.

A nameless person left in remembrance a good wish. “May all who sit on this bench follow their dreams in New York City just like my courageous wife Melissa.”

Another marker personalizes war and terrorism. “Leo – agent orange/ Richard – Flight 103, Lockerbie”

Places of remembrance would be incomplete without marking the loss of pets. “Otto/Best dog ever/ Best friend ever.”

In addition to the bench plaques, there are collective memorials.

Toward the south end of the park is the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Memorial to the seven thousand who died trying to fight their way out.

To the north is a memorial to firefighters who “died at the call of duty/ soldiers in a war that never ends.” Every year on September 11, firefighters in dress uniforms gather to pay their respects.

On Memorial Day, a ceremony is held at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument to the 370, 000 New York State residents who fought to save the union in the Civil War. Last year, I walked the two blocks from my apartment and attended.

Soldiers in period uniforms mingle with active-duty Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard personnel who are in town for Fleet Week. A navy band plays, tributes are led by dignitaries, wreaths are laid in honor of local military groups, and a man who lives up the street is recognized for his service. I didn’t know him, but I recognized his name. It was on a bench in the park.

“Irwin “Cookie” Solomon/ Proud WWII vet and Giants fan/ Morning Mayor of the Upper West Side/ Honoring his 90th year/ May 11, 2014”

Ten years later, he stood and read a statement about being proud to have served. He died three weeks later.

“Let us now praise famous men and their fathers who begat us…There are some of them who have left a name so that men declare their praise….And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born.” Ecclesiasticus 44

May they all rest in peace.

 

______________________________

NOW AVAILABLE – IN PAPERBACK OR EBOOK, WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD. 

 A Franklin Manor Christmas. A deep-snow, two-hankie story of despair versus hope