Published September 23, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Over a hundred people came together to support people in recovery and to remember those who lost their battle with addiction during the second annual A Night of Hope on Sunday, Sept. 20.
A Healthy Lynnfield and the Think of Michael Foundation hosted the event once again in order to raise awareness about substance abuse and mental health during National Recovery Month. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, A Night of Hope featured a car procession dubbed the “Rally for Recovery” that began and ended at Lynnfield Middle School.
The event began with attendees pulling up in front of the middle school, and A Healthy Lynnfield and Think of Michael board members gave motorists a purple votive candle, purple ribbons and purple T-shirts since it is National Recovery Month’s official color. There were so many cars that participated in the procession that traffic got backed on Main Street all the way to the Town Common.
There were purple flags placed around the Center, and Boston RV Rental owner Bob Priestley used a projector in order to light up the Meeting House in purple as well as project a purple ribbon on the building.
After the car procession returned to the middle school, Selectman Phil Crawford, who leads A Healthy Lynnfield, thanked everyone for coming to the ceremony. He said the event serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the town’s substance abuse prevention efforts and mental health resources.
“This event means a lot to A Healthy Lynnfield and the Think of Michael Foundation,” said Crawford. “A Healthy Lynnfield has been working with our Office of Prevention led by Peg Sallade, Kelsey Coughlin and Julie Greene. The amount of programming and the work they do with the schools and throughout the town is tremendous. We are going expand what we do for the town.”
Crawford also thanked Police Sgt. Jared Provost and Patrolman Mark Bettencourt for leading A Night of Hope’s Rally for Recovery.
Selectman Dick Dalton, who is the Think of Michael Foundation’s treasurer, thanked the ceremony’s attendees for “supporting this important event.”
“Awareness is very much part of our mission at the Think of Michael Foundation,” said Dalton. “The more people are aware of these dreaded diseases, the more we can do to help people.”
Dalton thanked the foundation’s board of directors for working tirelessly to help him and his family honor the late Michael Dalton’s memory by funding scholarships that allow people in recovery to stay at a sober house.
“Without them, there wouldn’t be a foundation,” said Dalton. “They work tirelessly throughout the year and with your generous support, we are able to give scholarships to people seeking sober house living on a regular basis.”
Dalton thanked Town Administrator Rob Dolan for helping organize the second annual A Night of Hope as well as DPW Director John Tomasz and DPW highway foreman Mark Rogers for helping coordinate the procession. He also thanked state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) for attending the event as well as supporting substance prevention efforts at the local and state level.
“One is a Democrat and one is a Republican,” said Dalton. “The two of them work very hard for this town and work very hard to support A Healthy Lynnfield and the Think of Michael Foundation. That’s not just by being here, but actually by enacting legislation on Beacon Hill that has been very, very helpful.”
Before members of the Lynnfield Clergy Association offered a closing prayer, Dalton asked A Night of Hope’s attendees to light their purple votive candles. The entire LMS parking lot was illuminated in a purple glow.
Centre Congregational Church Rev. Nancy Rottman said the ceremony allows people to “carry light and hope for others.”
“Not only when life feels blessedly easy, but also especially during times such as this when it is rough, dark and seemingly impossible,” said Rev. Rottman. “We all create a light and hope in our hands tonight because we recognize that substance use disorder does not discriminate. Silence and isolation feed addiction. Community leads us away from addiction. We give thanks for those in recovery and celebrate the renewal of life in their sobriety. We hold with compassion every person touched by another’s substance use. We see you and we see your struggle. You are not alone.”
Community Covenant Church Rev. Joel Anderle shared a prayer from the late Catholic priest Rev. Thomas Merton, whom he called “one of the great contemplative thinkers of the 20th century.”
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going,” said Rev. Anderle. “I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may not know anything about it. Therefore I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost or in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative Rev. Paul Ritt echoed Rev. Anderle’s sentiment.
“Most loving God, we ask for your blessing for all who suffer from addiction,” said Rev. Ritt. “Strengthen them to reach out for help and enable them to take the first step toward recovery. Bless them with the persistence to persevere in their fight to be free. Give courage and hope to their families, drawing them close together in the power of your love which alone can transform our lives.”
Wakefield-Lynnfield Methodist Church Rev. Glenn Mortimer commended A Healthy Lynnfield and the Think of Michael Foundation for “doing the work that has to be done to make this world a more loving, more grace-filled and blessed place.”
“We are truly fortunate this evening to celebrate that,” said Rev. Mortimer. “To be able to come together even in the midst of a pandemic shows that all hope is not lost. There is always hope because there is always togetherness as we are called to love our neighbor as we have been taught to love each other. We should take that love and spread it as far and as wide as we can. Take a piece of the togetherness that we have from this evening home with you, and do not forget this night. Carry it in your mind and in your heart so that others may know in the depth of darkness and despair, they are not alone and there is always hope.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan thanked townspeople for coming to A Night of Hope. He said he is optimistic next year’s ceremony will be returning to the Town Common and no one will be wearing masks.
“Until then, let’s make every night A Night of Hope,” said Dolan.
After the ceremony concluded, DJ Bob Priestley played two songs, including “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
In an interview with the Villager after the ceremony concluded, Crawford said he was thrilled with the turnout for A Night of Hope.
“It was a great showing for the town,” said Crawford.
Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Peg Sallade agreed.
“It’s a wonderfully supportive community,” said Sallade. “It leaves you with a good feeling.”
Dalton concurred with Crawford and Sallade’s viewpoint.
“I am very happy with the turnout because we didn’t know what to expect,” said Dalton.
