Floral Heart Project Memorial on Town House lawn

Recognizing the tragedies, remembering those lost...

Melissa Coughlin a Medfield native, nurse and current Board of Health Member, along with the Freshman teen service group, Medfield Strong and others recognized the first unofficial National Day of Mourning for COVID-19 tragedies on March 1st with a ceremony in front of the Medfield Town House. This initiative gives this group of high school students a voice in their grieving process.

In addition, as part of the Floral Heart Project, a floral display was placed on the front lawn of the Town House, as Main Street has great visibility. All across the nation similar ceremonies and floral hearts were erected as a powerful reminder of what we have all been through.This wreath is to be viewed as a memorial and if any resident would like to embellish it by adding a photo or a message note on the accompanying corkboard, they are encouraged to do so.

Everyone is encouraged to stop by the Town House lawn and take a moment to see the photos and reflect.

If you would prefer to reach out directly to Melissa Coughlin at bmcoughlin10@gmail.com she will sympathetically add your loved one's name, photo, or story to the display. The display will be available to view from March 1st to March 8th. Grief has a funny way of burying itself deep within us, healing can sometimes begin by holding its hand and putting a name to it. We hope this
project will do just that.

Melissa Coughlin led the ceremony with these words:

"Hi my friends, thank you for gathering here with me tonight as we unveil this memorial site and heart garland.

COVID-19, CoronavirusSARS-CoV-2 whatever you have called this insidious little virus, it came rolling into our lives almost one year ago with its first tangible effects like an invisible YET somehow also blinding storm. It brought with it destruction and so much loss. We gather here in this moment to reflect and share our experiences. We want to thank Kristina Libby for this deeply cathartic project. Kristina is an artist and activist from NYC, she initiated this nation-wide event and 1-800-flowers sponsored it. We also want to thank Lovell’s in Medfield for providing us with additional rose petals to complete this display and Robert Mitchell Caruso Funeral home for the donation of eternity candles to us and families of survivors here in town.

The Floral Heart Project has one simple goal, to create a safe space to mourn all that the pandemic has taken from us. Today over 100 garlands are being unveiled from Maine to Florida, Washington to California, Ohio to Texas and almost every state in between. This grassroots initiative found its way to Medfield when it was brought to my attention by a friend Mary Fraser, she knew it would be therapeutic for me...and it certainly has.

I recruited my son’s 9th grade community service group, Medfield Strong, to help get me it up and running. Medfield Strong was started when the boys were in third grade! Their intention has always been to give back to our community and communities in need through charitable events and organizations. They have sponsored and supported countless outreach ventures. Therefore, this initiative seemed like a natural fit for them. That generation has already lost so much of their irreplaceable high school experiences, their inclusion in this project has promoted conversations and discussion amongst their age group.

In addition to this dedication site, a similar one has been replicated at the Medfield High School. A huge thank you to both Mr. Sperling and Mr. Parga for embracing this idea and supporting this endeavor.

On a personal note, working as a nurse on the front lines has brought about an immeasurable amount of stress. We have all have found different ways to cope, for me I have found such peace and solace in putting my feelings on paper and if I am being honest maybe also a glass of wine or two… My boys have agreed to read my reflections on this time...."

Click HERE to view this entire ceremony on Medfield TV YouTube.