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Can Do Better

Neck River Elementary? I think we can do better than that. I can’t think of very many elementary schools nationwide that aren’t named after an individual who made a local impact. Madison Public Schools follows suit, celebrating people who have left a profound legacy. Daniel Hand is so revered that Academy School still sits in limbo to honor his will that it be used as a school. I am still not sure about the fate of Academy after all these years as headline news.

Captain Phineas Meigs (1708-1782) was the only patriot killed on Madison soil during the Revolutionary War on May 19, 1782. The Connecticut Historical Society now owns his hat, which bears the bullet hole that went through his head. He died for our freedoms; it’s possible that without him, life as we know it wouldn’t exist. Captain Meigs revolted against the British on what is now East Wharf. Don’t we all love East Wharf? What about Captain Phineas Meigs Elementary School? Not only is it a cool name but an exciting and captivating story for our elementary school youngsters. What’s more, we could build a revolutionary style ship playscape for the children and other nods to our heritage, complimenting the nautical and colonial themes we all adore. All in favor say, “Aye, Aye, captain!”

Sean McAulife

Madison