By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

I have written here on newsandviewsjb many times about the good works of my friend Ann Walsh. She was one of the original volunteers for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and has been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars for the foundation towards research to fight pediatric cancer. She has been a volunteer at Mary’s Place in Windsor, Connecticut – A Center for Grieving Children, has participated in a program to help youngsters at the local schools learn courtesy and manners, for some eleven years she has coordinated a care package program for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan called “Send Hometown Windsor to the Troops”, was instrumental too in advancing plans for the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial, and the list goes on.

When the former Windsor Journal closed down, Ann sent a letter to the editor sharing her feelings about the articles I had written for the paper over twelve years – it meant a great deal to me. Then she followed up by surprising me with a departing memento  – a Willow Tree Angel that came with a saying “Always There -Always Listening -Always Caring.” As a journalist, to have someone see that in your work – well, even for someone whose life is all about words there simply are not ones adequate enough to express how deeply that touched me.

Ann

I first met Ann when I was covering an Alex’s Lemonade Stand event and soon learned she was tenacious when it came to causes affecting kids. That tenacity and devotion is also present in her efforts for the troops. She collects the items for the boxes, goes out and does the fundraising for money needed to mail them and leads the monthly packing of the boxes. As well, she corresponds with the soldiers. She is the only civilian to date to have been chosen to serve as a keynote speaker at a Windsor Veterans Day ceremony. Her commitment to her causes did not waiver even when she lost her beloved husband Bill last summer.

I am proud to call Ann my friend.

With just this small glimpse into the person she is, it is easy to understand why a Shamrock Angel she recently gave me has a special place by my computer desk. Along with a quilt my mother made that is draped over the back of my chair, this Shamrock Angel is one of the first things I see when I sit down to write each morning – it gives me joy, comfort and inspiration – exactly what Ann continues to bring into so many lives!

Thank you Ann for all that you do and all that you mean to so many people.