Bill, Kyle & I would like to thank everyone for being here today for the dedication of Kelsey’s Bridge & Kelsey’s Garden. It is wonderful to see so many family, friends & members of the community out here today in remembrance of Kelsey. She would be so honored. Today is a bittersweet day for us. We acknowledge & celebrate the accomplishment of the Kelsey Bridge Project but this also is a day that brings us great sadness as we reflect and remember why this project began.
Out of a tragedy of one, many unite together in Remembrance of Kelsey. That has been the theme since that tragic day of September 23,2011. We have seen so many unite and bond together to remember our Kelsey, to remember the girl who was always smiling. Those that knew Kelsey well, knew that all she ever wanted was for everyone to get along with each other, to be happy and to do good things in life. Well, I believe Kelsey is definitely smiling today and she certainly is amazed at all that has been achieved this past year. She would be honored and humbled by the outpouring of love and support from her family, friends and the community.
Today we celebrate the many wonderful things that have happened since that tragic day
It started with a church community clearing a path-Kelsey’s Path -to allow Kelsey’s friends safe passage to the accident site- a place where friends & family needed to gather. A special thank you to Joyce Shutt and Pastor Hines and Bethel Church community.
A husband and wife-Jeff & Linda Wynn were inspired to create a masterpiece - Kelsey’s Bridge –as a tribute and in remembrance of our daughter. For that we are forever grateful
The vision of Kelsey’s garden & landscape design became a reality through the efforts of many but special thanks to my sister, Linda Gumeny, Phil Santangelo, Fred Minahan and Steve Campbell-without you this beautiful garden would not be possible. The garden is the frame of the masterpiece thus completing it.
We have seen a community uniting together to mourn but also to remember and to honor Kelsey and many are dedicated to doing good things to honor and keep her spirit and memory alive.
This year has seen the initiation of many fundraising activities that were led by friends whose lives were touched by Kelsey . A very special thank you to : Karen Shimer, Heather Getley, Lisa Monk, Amy Gallagher, Dave Greene & the Barretta Family-Kate, Lindsay & Nicole & the Greenblatt Family-Kimberton Whole Foods, Amanda Keck & Pulse Academy, OJR HS Administration and students. Without you and your efforts to raise funds for this project-today would not be possible.
The creation of a website by Virtual Farm Creative in tribute to Kelsey. A site that tells of the tragedy but more importantly Kelsey’s life story.
The development of Kelsey’s Scholarship Fund through the OJREF to keep the spirit of Kelsey’s memory forever in our hearts and allows us to give back to the OJR community in Kelsey’s name.
The creation of the Kelsey Kramer Memorial Scholarship Award to the Parisi Speed School in Downingtown. A scholarship dedicated to the memory and eternal spirit of Kelsey.
Fundraising efforts initiated by Kelsey’s Friends to benefit Kelsey’s Scholarship- Special thanks to Amanda Keck & Pulse Academy, Nick Daniels,Aubrey Steuber, Kevin Hoffman, and Ricki Barto.
A High School that united this year- where the walls between the cliques came down and the kids gathered together as a result of a tragedy and where the different groups-diverse group all came together and got a long with one another. I have heard this from several of Kelsey’s friends as well as teachers and the administration in OJRHS that things are very different now since the loss of Kelsey on that tragic day. Kelsey always had so many diverse groups of friends. She would be so proud to see everyone getting along as that was her greatest wish. If this could be sustained –what a very powerful message that represents and certainly that is what Kelsey would want her legacy to be. For everyone to get along and be happy.
Today could not be possible without the efforts and contributions of so many people. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you as well as to those that are not able to be with us today. For this tribute to be a reality there are so so many people to thank and it would be impossible to mention each and everyone that had a part in bringing the vision of Kelsey’s Bridge to reality. However, there are a few people that I need to mention and expresses our sincere gratitude to:
First to Pastor Hines for her ongoing support & guidance-Thank You ,to Bethel Church for allowing Kelsey’s Bridge & Kelsey’s Garden to be placed on Bethel Grove.
Thank You, to Jeff & Linda Wynn for your inspiration, vision and creation of Kelsey’s Bridge-it is truly an inspiring work of art, a masterpiece to honor our daughter, Kelsey.
Thank you to Phil Santangelo & Fred Minahan who built the stonewall & walkway and were instrumental in the landscaping creation.
Thank You, to my sister, Linda Gumeny, who created the landscape design for Kelsey’s garden and coordinated the installation.
Thank you to Phil Santangelo for enabling the vision of a landscape design to become a reality.
Thank You to Steve Campbell who worked to get the donations of the trees, plants and flowers from local nurserys for the landscape design.
Thank You and to everyone who was planting at the planting day
This is a beautiful, beautiful gift and tribute to Kelsey for which we are eternally grateful. It is an everlasting gift in remembrance of Kelsey. And to everyone else whose name I didn’t mention who contributed either by helping with the bridge,walkway, planting or contributing to one of the many fundraising activities- Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
We are forever grateful. We are so very proud to be part of such a caring & supportive community. Thank you for honoring and remembering our beautiful girl……our beautiful Kelsey.
- Lori Kramer
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