Franklin teen requesting letters for COVID memorial time capsule

With a view of Youngs Creek, the small sitting area off Monroe Street is a slice of serenity in downtown Franklin.

Black benches offer a place to sit and contemplate underneath shady trees opposite Province Park. Landscaping and a mulch border help beautify the area. A walkway made with engraved bricks leads people from the sidewalk to the concrete pad.

The space is a marked departure from the chaos, anxiety and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the local resident who built it hopes everyone who visits takes time to remember that disruptive period in our lives — and everyone who died during it.

“This memorial is different for everyone. It’s going to mean something different in everyone’s life,” said Braiddinn Plymate, who created the memorial.

Plymate, a senior at Franklin Community High School, spent the final months of 2023 building the COVID memorial at Dewitt Park in downtown Franklin as his Eagle Scout project. He designed the memorial, went through weeks of meetings to get it approved by both Scouting officials and Franklin city leaders. Community members donated money to fund the project, and helped do everything from laying concrete to placing bricks.

Now, Plymate is ready for the final aspect of the project. He’s asking the community to submit letters reflecting on the pandemic period, which will be placed in a time capsule and buried at the memorial site.

“I want to get as many letters as I can get — as many stories,” he said. “I want their point of view. I don’t want unicorns and rainbows, I want them to explain the society we were in. That’s the whole point.”

Plymate decided to create the Indiana COVID-19 Memorial as he was brainstorming ideas for his Eagle Scout project. Eagle Scout is the highest achievement possible in the Scouting world; even to be eligible, Scouts need to have been active in their troop, earned at least 21 merit badges and demonstrate character adhering to the Scout ideals.

Finally, they must plan, develop and lead a service project to benefit either a school, community or religious organization.

Plymate kept coming back to those early months of the COVID pandemic. For the first time in his life, the whole world paused, everyone enduring and fighting the same battle, unsure of what would come next, he said.

He wanted to create something that allowed people to reflect on that shared experience, as well as to remember those who died during the pandemic — not only from the virus, but from anything, he said.

“This is the Indiana COVID-Era Memorial, so there are people who did not die from COVID but died during that time,” he said. “Everything impacted one another.”

Working with city officials and his Scout leaders, he received permission to create the memorial. From a parks department’s perspective, it is a welcome addition to an otherwise unused area of the park.

“This memorial will not only be a nice addition to our park system, it will also allow people to reflect on the pandemic and the impacts that it had on the residents/front-line workers of our community,” said Rocky Stultz, assistant superintendent for Franklin Parks and Recreation, in September.

The memorial is located at Dewitt Park, situated to the east of Garment Factory Events on the grassy lawn along East Wayne Street.

Inside the 12-foot-by-9-foot concrete pad, Plymate and a small army of helpers installed three black 6-foot-long benches in a U shape. The first bench is dedicated to emergency medical services, fire, police and hospital workers, while the second honors essential workers.

A third bench memorializes all who lost their lives during the pandemic. Plymate also sold engraved bricks recognizing those three groups as well.

“I had a lot of support that I couldn’t be more thankful for. There were a lot of people who showed up to help,” he said.

Since the memorial has been finished, Plymate has received positive feedback from the community. He’s heard from one nearby resident whose loved ones’ names are included in the memorial who comes over to sweep off the bricks and concrete each morning, he said.

The final portion is burying a time capsule at the memorial. There will be a ribbon-cutting for the site on May 31, and the time capsule will be buried the following day.

Inside the capsule, he hopes to collect letters from the community sharing their thoughts about the pandemic.

“I’m looking for letters to fill it, not items. That’s going to be way more meaningful than a teddy bear or a pocketwatch,” he said. “I want to see what life was like for you during COVID — what life was like for your kids, for your grandma and grandpa, for business owners, nurses, doctors, teachers.”

Letters can be mailed or dropped off to Plymate at 25. N. Main St., Franklin. He asks that anyone sending in a letter includes a return address, as Plymate plans to send all participants an invitation to witness the burial process in June.

AT A GLANCE

Indiana COVID-19 Memorial

What: A memorial created in honor of those who died from COVID-19, as well as to recognize health care workers, first responders and essential workers during the pandemic. A time capsule will also be buried at the memorial remembering the pandemic era.

Where: The memorial is located at DeWitt Park in downtown Franklin, off of East Wayne Street.

Who: Braiddinn Plymate, a Franklin Community High School senior who is doing the project to earn his Eagle Scout badge.

Ribbon cutting: 3 p.m. May 31

How to help: Plymate is asking the community to submit letters telling their stories, emotions and experiences during the pandemic. Everyone can take part. Mail or drop off letters to Plymate at 25 N. Main St., Franklin IN 46131. All letters need to be in by May 25.