An annual sunrise service was held at the Marshfield Harbor Park for International Overdose Awareness Day.
Marshfield and Duxbury FACTS organized the vigil.
Mary Price, the Chair of Marshfield FACTS, says it’s an opportunity to reflect and provide support to those impacted by substance abuse.
“For every person that’s here, I’m grateful that they did come out. That they reached out, that they stood here in this beautiful park listening to beautiful words, and beautiful music,” said Price. “Hopefully at some point they felt a sense of peace, a sense of community, and support. From the feedback that I’m getting from people today, I think that they did. There’s still people hanging around, just talking, getting support, and getting to know other people’s stories.”
Dozens of candles were placed as names were read out loud. Karen MacDonald lead an exercise called the “favorites game,” where people spoke about a favorite memory, food, or holiday for their loved ones.
At last year’s service, a blue spruce tree was planted in the park.
“People are encouraged to place rocks under the tree with people’s names to remember,” said Price. “What we really hoped for was that the tree would become a place people could come in this beautiful park and reflect, meditate, and feel close to people they’ve lost.”
Among the speakers was Kathleen Kelley Bonfilio, who lost her son, Sal, to an overdose last year.
She spoke about the calmness and comfort the park brings her each visit. She placed a heart-shaped rock by tree in the park in his memory. But one day, it went missing.
After posting her story to Facebook, she received hundreds of responses in support. Eventually, the rock was returned to the park.
“I’ll always see a sign like a dragonfly, a butterfly, there was a red cardinal – which is never, never near the ocean. It was right over here by the tree, so I said ‘that’s you Sal, I know it’s you,’” said Bonfilio. “There’s signs, I hope that through bringing awareness of the tree will help a lot of mothers come down here, fathers, or I hope loved ones. I hope they come down, sit, reflect and keep the spirit of that person going.”
Flags were placed on the Marshfield Town Green in recognition of lives lost in Massachusetts. Town Hall will be lit purple tonight.
More information can be found on the Marshfield FACTS Facebook page.
