Around Natick

Some people in Natick think their nickname issue is unique. It’s not. Sorry folks, but many towns have had their traditions assaulted by newcomers. Here’s a letter from Framingham which tells the story from their point of view. (I’ll just reprint as-is)

“So you wonder about people getting upset over changing the name Redmen, and that an issue like this can stir up so much debate is astounding you? There is nothing astounding about this at all, it’s all quite simple if you have true roots in the town.

I then must wonder how you’d have felt over the long battles of The school colors and athletic names for the town you live in. I just bet you have no idea what I am talking about. Do you or a few others in the town you now call home and are doing battle for one thing or an other on a daily basis on the political level of your playing field have any awareness of the Flyers?

I will clue you new comers to town in. Framingham went from a single high school to a two high school town for many years. The original high school logo was the Flyers and colors were blue and white. When North high was built the sports teams took on the name Spartan’s with colors of green and gold. Now the town was going to back to one high school and it had a big problem. I mean a really big problem, not like some of the silly arguments or new laws you sit around the camp fire and come up with, this one was serious. Do you go with the Flyers and colors of blue and white, the original colors of the school or the Spartan’s that really are new to the town even though they have been a logo for quite a few years? Trust me, I have been in many a debate with a variety of issues for many years but this one was of the utmost importance.

Dealing with a tradition, a land mark, your name, your colors, the thing you carried with you as your badge of honor in your youth and later as your almamater is not something you joke about. Not in Framingham and not in Natick.

These names and colors are the back bones of our youth, our town, our memories and our loyalty. Yes, tucked away in a closet in my house are my memorabilia with something with the F. logo on it from my day and a Flyers Jacket of my daughter’s. These are treasures of great memories you won’t see me throwing out.

This is what gives the meaning to roots, to loyalty to a town in good times and bad.

So now that you have moved into Framingham and have taken up your own personal battles on things like if dogs can run free at Callahan State park or who or what should now move into town or if you can chop a tree down or put a well in at your own property. In the back ground the Flyers live on in their Blue and White, and as usual, we will be there to cheer them on. Welcome to the town of loyalty and the Flyers and go Natick to hold on to your heritage.

Just a bit of Framingham 1 0 1.

Ginny Marino”

thanks for the refreshing perspective. Natick School Committee is made up of outsiders who don’t really have anything at stake.  (None of the School Committee members actually went to school in Natick. Loyalty to tradition? No such luck. How some of them managed to get elected is a topic for another day.)