Remember the good times
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I never had the opportunity to meet Rhett W. Stark.
But seeing the way people celebrated and honored his life Monday at Mitchell Park in Greenfield spoke to me.
In the final portion of the Opening Day ceremonies, a red, white and blue scoreboard was unveiled, with the words "In memory of Rhett W. Stark" along with the words "Mitchell Park" on the bottom of the scoreboard.
That is what I love about the people I have met in Greenfield.
The thing that I love is how they all come together and help one another to honor those who are no longer with us, while celebrating the future of the town by giving the youth of the city a way to play a great game, whether it be baseball, softball, tee-ball or coach-pitch.
The scoreboard also had a photo in the top right corner of Rhett.
He is standing and smiling with his arms crossed in the photo, and I feel that is the perfect way to show everyone what Mitchell Park is about.
Happiness.
Go and visit the scoreboard with the image of Rhett. Then walk around to the various fields and watch the games of baseball and softball being played.
Realize how important these games are to the kids who are playing.
If you look at the kids, you notice they are happy.
The kids are smiling and enjoying a game.
Last year, when I attended Opening Day, I snapped a photo of a couple of tee-ball players, one of whom happened to turn in my direction with a backwards hat, all smiles.
To me, that image captured said everything that Mitchell Park is about. If any photo ever spoke a thousand words, I honestly think that photo did.
But back to this year and the emotion shown at the ballpark.
Arriving almost one hour before the festivities began, I walked around in the almost silent park, just soaking in all the history that I have witnessed in my few years attending the park along with the history I have yet to learn.
Mitchell Park is the field where my high school athletic career ended in a baseball loss in 2002 when the Tigers defeated the Blue Lions in a sectional game.
Look around the park closely. You will see fields dedicated to people who meant enough to the community to have a field named after them. There is a sign in right field of Daryl Unger Field with a 6 on it dedicated to Hannah Losey, who lost her life too soon. Hannah and Casey Anderson, for whom two years ago the season at Mitchell Park was dedicated, made more of an impact in their years than most of us will do in our own lifetime.
Back to Monday.
Rhett's father, Rodney, spoke at the event on Monday. He spoke about how his son enjoyed playing at the park and how their family enjoyed their time at Mitchell Park in years that have gone by.
And, again, it comes back to remembering the good times and the times that brought happiness.
Remembering the good times is something I had to do last month, so when Rodney Stark spoke about his family's good times at Mitchell Park, I knew the new scoreboard was something that will help the community remember their good times, not only about Rhett, but all their good times with their own family and their Greenfield family at their park.
I am glad the image on a scoreboard helped me realize to remember the good times, and I hope it helps others as well.
Always remember the good times.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
But seeing the way people celebrated and honored his life Monday at Mitchell Park in Greenfield spoke to me.
In the final portion of the Opening Day ceremonies, a red, white and blue scoreboard was unveiled, with the words "In memory of Rhett W. Stark" along with the words "Mitchell Park" on the bottom of the scoreboard.
That is what I love about the people I have met in Greenfield.
The thing that I love is how they all come together and help one another to honor those who are no longer with us, while celebrating the future of the town by giving the youth of the city a way to play a great game, whether it be baseball, softball, tee-ball or coach-pitch.
The scoreboard also had a photo in the top right corner of Rhett.
He is standing and smiling with his arms crossed in the photo, and I feel that is the perfect way to show everyone what Mitchell Park is about.
Happiness.
Go and visit the scoreboard with the image of Rhett. Then walk around to the various fields and watch the games of baseball and softball being played.
Realize how important these games are to the kids who are playing.
If you look at the kids, you notice they are happy.
The kids are smiling and enjoying a game.
Last year, when I attended Opening Day, I snapped a photo of a couple of tee-ball players, one of whom happened to turn in my direction with a backwards hat, all smiles.
To me, that image captured said everything that Mitchell Park is about. If any photo ever spoke a thousand words, I honestly think that photo did.
But back to this year and the emotion shown at the ballpark.
Arriving almost one hour before the festivities began, I walked around in the almost silent park, just soaking in all the history that I have witnessed in my few years attending the park along with the history I have yet to learn.
Mitchell Park is the field where my high school athletic career ended in a baseball loss in 2002 when the Tigers defeated the Blue Lions in a sectional game.
Look around the park closely. You will see fields dedicated to people who meant enough to the community to have a field named after them. There is a sign in right field of Daryl Unger Field with a 6 on it dedicated to Hannah Losey, who lost her life too soon. Hannah and Casey Anderson, for whom two years ago the season at Mitchell Park was dedicated, made more of an impact in their years than most of us will do in our own lifetime.
Back to Monday.
Rhett's father, Rodney, spoke at the event on Monday. He spoke about how his son enjoyed playing at the park and how their family enjoyed their time at Mitchell Park in years that have gone by.
And, again, it comes back to remembering the good times and the times that brought happiness.
Remembering the good times is something I had to do last month, so when Rodney Stark spoke about his family's good times at Mitchell Park, I knew the new scoreboard was something that will help the community remember their good times, not only about Rhett, but all their good times with their own family and their Greenfield family at their park.
I am glad the image on a scoreboard helped me realize to remember the good times, and I hope it helps others as well.
Always remember the good times.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]