Alumni Dedicated Life-Size Flanagan Statue At Oct. 5 Ceremony In Celebration of 85th Anniversary

Girls and Boys Town
Saturday, 5 October 2002

More than 100 Girls and Boys Town children from the present and past joined a delegation of 12 officials from Ireland to dedicate a life-size statue of Father Edward J. Flanagan and form a Sister City relationship.

The 11 a.m. dedication helped kick off the organization's celebration of its 85th anniversary (December 12).

A "twinning" charter was signed by Girls and Boys Town officials and the delegation from Father Flanagan's hometown of Ballymoe, Ireland. The charter will promote areas of common interest including social, cultural, educational, spiritual and academic exchanges between Ballymoe and Girls and Boys Town. It is hoped that a range of events will take place between the two communities in the future.

"Father Flanagan has two homes, one in the village of Ballymoe, and one in the Village of Boys Town," said Father Val J. Peter , Girls and Boys Town national executive director. "The two are now joining to keep Father Flanagan's dream alive in both countries."

The ceremony followed a special Mass at Dowd Memorial Chapel. Omaha Pipes and Drums led a parade of students, alumni and officials from the church to Father Flanagan's original home about two blocks away, where the statue was permanently placed. The Knights of Columbus and Ancient Order of Hibernians participated in the events.

Last October, an identical statue was placed at Father Flanagan's childhood home in Ballymoe.

The statues were created by internationally known and Nebraska based artist, Fred Hoppe. Hoppe's works include sculptures at the George Bush Presidential Library in Houston, Texas, and one of the largest bronze World War II memorials in Branson, Mo.

Girls and Boys Town, the original Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, is a leader in the treatment and care of abused, abandoned and neglected girls and boys. In 2001, a record of 37,456 children received help, healing, and hope from Girls and Boys Town's direct care programs at 19 sites in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 400,000 children and families were helped through the Girls and Boys Town National Hotline, and more than 1.1 million more were served through outreach and professional training programs last year.

For more information, or to contact Girls and Boys Town, see their website at: www.girlsandboystown.org