July 23, 2009

Editorial

South Boston Online would like to weigh in regarding the growing momentum to create and name a public monument for Raymond L. Flynn.  We are all for it.   If anything, such recognition is long overdue, and we thank the Boston Herald for reminding us in its article on this topic last Friday (July 17, page four).

Ray Flynn was a public servant for most of his working life – at the city, state, and federal levels.  He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for eight years – 1971 to 1979 – representing South Boston during the 1974 busing crisis.  Then, he was elected to the Boston City Council from 1978 till 1984.  From there, he served three terms as the Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993.  He resigned to accept an appointment from President Clinton as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, where he served until 1997.  That’s a total of 26 years of continuous (and successful) public service. 

Flynn was also an excellent athlete.  An All-American at Providence College, he was named Most Valuable Player during the hotly-contested NIT (National Invitational Tournament) in 1963.  He was drafted by the Celtics, and was the last to be cut in favor of the more experienced Larry Siegfried.

Ray Flynn co-authored two books with Robin Moore – a fiction novel entitled “The Accidental Pope” and a biographical work, “John Paul II:  A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man”.  He currently has plans for two or three more book-length literary works.

His devotion to Catholicism and Catholic political action groups is well known.  He has been part of Catholic Alliance, Your Catholic Voice, and Catholic Citizenship, of which he was the Co-Founder and National Chairman.  His expressed views were always articulate and straightforward.  You knew where he stood.

South Boston Online is aware that most of our readers know these facts about Ray already.  You probably know him personally as well.  By putting them all down briefly, we are highlighting that Ray was (and is) a creative and versatile public servant.  In essence, we are stating why we think a memorial of some kind to him is highly fitting and greatly deserved.

So what would be a suitable public tribute to Raymond L. Flynn?  There should be two, in our opinion. 

One should be some form of citywide recognition, since Ray spent 15 of his 26 public years holding elective offices in Boston.  A park in the Ruggles Station/Dudley Square area would reflect his role in easing racial tensions in Boston of the 80s.  His literary talents could make it fitting to design a memorial having to do with the Boston Public Library.  The Herald’s article included a suggestion to rename the TD Garden after him (not bad).

The other tribute should be located here in South Boston, Ray’s home town.  How about M Street Beach becoming Ray Flynn Beach?  A statue of him jogging along his accustomed routes is a possibility.  Name a street or a prominent square after him.  Or name a public work or housing development for him. 

We would welcome receiving more ideas from our readers.  Please send them in, and we’ll publish them next week.  And please read the letter to the editor below.     

We want your ideas and suggestions.

Email us at: mail@southbostononline.com