By Susanna Natti
The Rotary Clubs of Bedford and Concord met for Thanksgiving luncheon on Tuesday at the Bedford Doubletree Hotel, hosting the senior football players and cheerleaders of Bedford High School and Concord-Carlisle High School two days before the teams’ traditional Thanksgiving Day faceoff.
Rotary has been doing this for several decades as a way to promote community and good sportsmanship. The luncheon began in 1980, under the auspices of then then current presidents Larry Carlton of Bedford and Bob McWalter of Concord.
Rotary club presidents Peter Colgan of Bedford and June Grace of Concord welcomed the crowd of 120 Rotarians, spouses, school officials, coaches and students. Also in attendance were Bedford Superintendent of Schools Jon Sills, Bedford High School Principal Henry Turner, Concord-Carlisle High School Principal Peter Badalament, Bedford Selectman Cathy Cordes, Bedford Fire Chief Dave Grunes and Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno.
Bedford Football Coach Jack Belcher and Concord-Carlisle Football Coach Mike Robichaud introduced cheerleading coaches Brittany Russell of Bedford and Francis D’Ambrosio of Concord, the players and cheerleaders.
Speaker Brian Mann, now the Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations at Dartmouth College, spoke to the students from the perspective of a former scholar/athlete and record-setting collegiate football player, remarking on the unique nature of football as a truly team sport and the indelible life lessons learned on the field.
Peter Colgan noted that one of Rotary’s core missions is working toward world peace and that it might seem odd to bring together two teams about to compete against each other. Trying to help people in need locally or globally requires “people to work together, putting aside our differences, in pursuit of a bigger goal that none of us can achieve alone….[B]reaking bread together is a reminder that we’re also playing in a bigger game, on a bigger field, with higher stakes. In that game of world peace, we’re all on the same team.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2th2h4n1c?rel=0&w=480&h=360]
This year’s Bedford-Concord football game will take place at10 am on Thanksgiving morning, at Bedford’s Sabourin Field.
Editor’s Note: Susanna Natti, is a member of the Bedford Rotary Club.
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