Ode to Joy, Remembrance of Sorrow Gathering at Mattson Park took place on Saturday
Madeline Gabka plays the trumpet during Ode to Joy/Remembrance of Sorrow gathering at Mattson Lower Harbor Park Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Margaret Brumm)
Joe O’Hagan and Michelle Strom O’Hagan
Sally Davis-Campana
Madeline Gabka plays the trumpet during Ode to Joy/Remembrance of Sorrow gathering at Mattson Lower Harbor Park Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Margaret Brumm)
Joe O’Hagan and Michelle Strom O’Hagan
Sally Davis-Campana
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From Margaret Brumm
MARQUETTE -- About 12 people joined organizer Margaret Brumm, and musician Madeline Gabka, for the First Annual Ode to Joy/Remembrance of Sorrow Gathering at Mattson Park at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The date was picked because in this area, the schools were closed on Friday (March 13) which marked the end of "business as usual" and the beginning of new challenges caused by the pandemic.
The program for the gathering was music and sharing of joy and sorrows over the last year.
Gabka started the program by playing "Ode to Joy," while the audience sang. Following the first song, Brumm spoke of the challenges of the Pandemic and specifically thanked the following organizations for their contributions to the local community over the past year:
≤ Sally Davis-Campana represented the local Rotary organization that continued working on rebuilding the playground at Hurley Field.
≤ Michell Strom O'Hagan was one of two representatives of the "Masks for Marquette" organization that supplied health care workers and essential workers with masks during the early days of the Pandemic when PPE was not available in the area.
Other organizations thanked included :
≤ Jackson's Pit Bar and Gourmet Grill, Negaunee, for providing free lunches for all school-age children for the first 10 weeks of the pandemic
≤ The Salvation Army for their efforts to feed, cloth and find shelter for people hard hit by loss of jobs and income due to the pandemic
≤ The TV 6 Canathon which raised more cash this year than any other year and donated that cash to organizations who used it to help local people.
≤ The Mining Journal Toy Drive (Cheer Club) and the Toys for Tots Toy drive that collected toys so that a children in the area would have presents on Christmas.
≤ The St. Vincent de Paul society for providing food and having necessary items on sale in their local stores.
≤ All the various small block "Food Banks" that shared basic food items with whomever needed them.
After the organizations were recognized, individuals came forward to share stories of life in the past year and of losses both before and during the pandemic. After each person spoke the group sang "Kumbaya." One person had sent in a write-up of losses within her own family for Brumm to read.
After the people spoke, Gabka played a jazz composition. Following closing remarks, Gabka played "Taps."