Sierra Club Miami Group held a fête at French Park on September 15 to honor Marilyn Wall (2023 Enquirer Woman of the Year) and to also spotlight the many accomplishments of Miami Group’s conservation activities.
The stone shelter proved the perfect setting for the event surrounded by the natural beauty of the park. The day began with a lovely catered lunch, using only reuseable dinnerware and utensils. Our master of ceremonies, Chris Curran, got the program started with the iconic interview of Marilyn as Woman of the Year, followed by a moving video tribute by David Altman, a longtime collaborator.
Justin Newman of the environmental law firm Altman Newman made further remarks about the efforts Marilyn has made over the years that have affected environmental issues and laws from local to national, but also many, many individual people.
Marilyn was then presented with a proclamation from Hamilton County designating it “Marilyn M. Wall Day”, afterward receiving a standing ovation! The event concluded with a visit to Sierra Club’s Grove at French Park, where Ralph Brueggemann spoke about the grove, and also the French Park Park Advisory Council who oversees volunteer efforts there. The ceremony ended with a tree dedication in Marilyn’s honor. A Red Oak was chosen as it represents her strength and steadfastness for environmental issues. Our champion, Marilyn Wall, has toiled decades to address sewer overflows and other violations of the Clean Water Act by the Metropolitan Sewer District. Her work with the citizens of Middletown, who have long suffered from dangerous air pollution from the Cleveland Cliffs steel facility, continues.
These and other campaigns of the Miami Group over the years demonstrate our concern for the environment and the effects of pollution on citizens. It is our hope that our guests, our members and those who read this, take away our message – and actively lend a hand with our endeavors to ensure a better future for all.
All photos by Chris Curran.
