In running a few errands for the kitchen late this afternoon, I passed a lovely church and its cemetery.
Several men and women were bent over working with weed whackers, racks, and shovels removing up the winter debris. Others were cleaning gravestones and affixing small American flags. They do this in honor of those who have come before them and fallen in the line of service.
Benjamin Disraeli once said, “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”
Remember those who came before us is something we ought to do more often.
Camp Memorial
Taking a walk around Weequahic this evening after dinner, the idea of Memorial Day struck me hard. I had just spoken with an alumnus of Weequahic whose son is coming to camp for the first time. The conversation led to speaking about the Lustig and Seffer families who got this whole party going.
Most of us never met Mr. Al Lustig. He was a teacher and coach at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ. The story, as I understand it, was that Mr. Lustig was a bit of a ‘pied piper’, someone who instructed and taught in all the right ways.
In the early 1950’s, Mr. Lustig was encouraged to find a piece of property that would become a summer camp for kids. In 1952, Mr. Lustig closed on the 110 acres of farm land and opened the doors of Camp Weequahic in June, 1953.
From 1953 until 2008, the Mr. and Mrs. Lustig, along with and preceded by their children and grandchildren, built Weequahic into a thriving spot for children. The traditions of Tribals and Olympics, Moo Call and Canteen Raids, Campfire and Burning the W… all came from our founding family.
Mr. and Mrs. Lustig have passed as have Mr. and Mrs. Seffer. The work they and the rest of the founding family of Weequahic completed set us on the path to where we are now – a thriving place that cares for children by behaving gratefully, choosing your attitude, and building courage.
They were the heroes who got us going, who put in the work, and had the vision of what this place could become in time. I hope they are looking down and smiling now.
Happy Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day weekend, I’d first like to honor all of the men and women who have fallen in service of our country. Without you, we could not enjoy camp as we do in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. Secondly, I’d like to thank the extended Lustig family for their vision of Weequahic. Without you all, we’d not have such a unique place to call our summer home.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend, y’all. Can’t wait for camp!
