For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt strongly that it’s important to make your voice heard; I have written countless letters of the non-personal variety, whether they have served to point out bad customer service, commend awesome customer service, or advocate for school music programs or other causes and issues.
It appears that Laurel shares my sense of purpose here.
On Sunday, we were strolling through the Public Garden, which led me to comment that I was glad that Pack (stolen last spring) was back. Which led to countless questions from Laurel, for example: Why would anyone steal a baby duck statue? How did they remove the duck? Really, they cut it off at the legs? Who were the robbers? Did they get caught? Were they mean? Did they go to jail? Where were the police? Shouldn’t the police be protecting the ducks all the time? And so on.
I turned to Google for some of the answers, and otherwise did my best to assuage Laurel’s worries and share that it would be too expensive for the city to have police duty watching the ducks 24/7. She seemed unsatisfied with that response and sat down to write the following letter, which will be on its way to the Boston Police Department shortly.
It reads: Dear police, In the public garden, we think you should put alarms and a secret camera around the ducks. Love, Laurel, Jon and Christine. Good luck!
As an avid letter writer myself, I must say that I commend her sense of duty. At five years old no less.
I also love that she signed her note with “love” and “Good luck!”
July 13th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Awwww….
And she’s right. Alarms and a camera would be cheaper then the periodic investigation.
Hope the police reply to her. Psst… If they don’t, give the station a call and ask that they do.
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Christine Koh Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I hope they respond too Peggy! How could anyone resist a sweet handwritten note from a kid??
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July 13th, 2010 at 9:13 am
That is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. I’m so glad we have children like Laurel who will stand. Gives me hope for the future!!
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July 13th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Just shared this with your fans in Mary Lyon Hall. We’re now all big fans of Laurel’s too!
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Christine Koh Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
She’s clearly part of the next generation of strongly worded letter writers.
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July 13th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Like Mother, Like Daughter! Can this little girl be any more adorable? For years, I’ve been worrying about what the future holds for our children. Based on this one letter, I’m starting to feel better that our future leaders are being groomed now! Go Laurel!
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July 13th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I’d vote for her. She seems to have her priorities in order. The Duck Party has spoken!
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July 13th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
That is darling! Love it.
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July 15th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
OMG–that is adorable! I’m with Laurel on this issue.
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July 17th, 2010 at 1:50 am
[...] urge police to do more to protect Nancy Schon’s “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture in Boston’s Public Garden: “We think you should put alarms and a secret camera around [...]
January 20th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
[...] due to her pregnancy. I love that Laurel feels compelled to write letters, whether in support of ducks or pregnant people. Anyway, this picture will accompany the letter — Laurel is very into [...]