To the Editor:
Valuing and Voting the Gift
Not long ago at our Centennial, Marion held a celebration honoring the generosity of Elizabeth Taber. A two-night musical tribute at the Music Hall was sold out. It appears our town’s residents value the gifts and commitment of this wise, forward-thinking citizen.
At another centennial event, as reported in the news, “The featured speaker for a sermon given during the weekend at the Congregational Church was Tabor Academy Headmaster John Quirk, who gave an allegorical talk on the parable of the sower and the ‘optimistic seeds’ that Mrs. Taber planted, having been nurtured and tended, and grown beyond expectations.”
“At the end of the parable of the sower, we hear of the good seeds – those that fell on deep, welcoming and fertile soil. Soil that is well prepared. We are told these came up, that they grew and that they produced a crop – some multiplying 30, some 60, some 100 times,” the Headmaster said. “Such have Elizabeth Taber’s gifts multiplied – beautiful buildings, kind and generous ambitions, lessons on how to be a good neighbor and a good person. These still grow. We are privileged to tend them, and grateful for the bounty.”
For me, it is important today, this year, to take care of our Marion Town Hall structure. Due to financial constraints in the past, we have let this building suffer. Today is no different. We still have and will have financial demands for significant needs and limited money. Which ones take precedence over others? I have listened to many opinions, tried to find reports, read comments written by people like Wayne Mattson and John Waterman. I am thankful that people are talking about this issue. Whatever the priority list for tax dollar expenditures, I can only believe that it is crucial to our history, to our story, that we honor the gifts of our generous benefactor so many years ago. Our historical buildings are important to what Marion is all about. Imagine any other place in this world without the buildings that represent it. What would Egypt be without its pyramids? England without Stonehenge? Washington without its White House? Our Marion Town House is an investment and one that is worthy. I hope we will pay it forward for ourselves and our children. We can do this by voting YES at the ballots on May 18.
Respectfully Submitted,
Diane Cook, Marion
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