Photo Album: KingletVA
It was a couple of bitter-sweet hours on Sunday, 6/15/08, when friends of Leni “Kes” Friedman gathered at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Va. To dedicate a bench in her honor and to share memories of her.
The bench is placed in the shade, overlooking a meadow, that was one of her favorite birding places there. Everyone, had at some time in the past, sat beside Leni, pointing out sightings of birds, swapping stories, resting or waiting for her to identify a birdsong, even though we could not see the singer. It does not matter, whether it was in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New jersey or even Texas or Arizona. We have all shared a bench with Leni.
Those common memories of her, were for those present that day, our bond to Leni, and it is her legacy, wherever she went- was creating a community of sharing what she loved, be it birding, or embroidery, her music or her love of nature. She did not just love the birds, she loved the butterflies, the dragonflies, the shape and color of clouds in the sky.
Afterwards, we walked back to the Visitors Center, birding all the way of course.
Director / Naturalist Kevin had set aside a room for us for refreshments that we brought along. In the background was bird song music and he had placed birds, hawks, herons, owls, woodpeckers and yes, two American Kestrels, a male and female on display from the museum part of the center. It was like a living room with soft lighting, chairs and tables.
In the central viewing area , was a plaque inscribed Friends of Huntley Meadows. Included in the names now, is Lenore “Leni” Friedman and the inscription below her name, “ Imagine, how empty our world would be, if no bird sang.”
All the family was there, her husband , “Doc” to many of us, her 3 girls and son Mark, her grandchildren as well, and friends that could make it there, as it was Father’s Day as well.
As we said goodbye’s to one another, amid hugs, tears and smiles, we all had the same feeling of thanks for having known Leni, in different stages of her life. She was a wife, a mother, a daughter, grandmother, birder, craftswoman, artist, musician, writer, photographer, but most of all--- she was a true friend. I miss her so much.
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to all who participated and made this event possible: the donations toward the memorial benches from all over the United States, the people involved in making this happen, her family for managing the details as well as Kevin and the staff of Huntley Meadows Park, and most of all to” Doc” Friedman for making this memorial a reality, by his decision to honor Leni’s legacy this way.
If you ever get to Arlington and Huntley Meadows, stop in the Visitor’s center/museum and then walk the trails and see the amazing amount of birds that call Huntley Meadows home. I think Leni is home there too.
by Ilse Jorgensen and Pat Allred
Leni, EDian (also, sadly, gone) & ? Cindy?.
Leni & Cappy at the
Leni counting the contributions to our take-out dinner at Lewes. According to my date stamps these were taken in 2003, but I'm not sure the Cape May & Lewes photos are from the same gathering.
