Freda Smith Photo: E.G. Stone
"It took a lot of courage on the part of parents of residents at LSS to support the closing of this institution. Many feared the possibility of state and Federal funds drying up, day programs and residential services ending. Those fears are still very real.
"These parents are the pioneers who blazed the trail and made it so much easier for the parents of today’s developmentally disabled children. These parents will never know the pain of having to place a child in an institution. I hope that they hear and understand how far we have come and what we all went through.
"If our efforts had touched only one child, it would have been enough. The extraordinary thing about our accomplishments, parents together with legislators, state workers and advocates, is that we did not touch one child. We changed an entire state. And by example we have changed other states as well.
"To those here today who hold the purse strings for the State of New Hampshire, a gentle reminder to you that the closing of this institution has brought about substantial savings - that you have a moral obligation to see that these dollars follow the individuals, with the argument based on humanity and better habilitation that is offered in the community. If anyone is thinking of cutting money out of the budget for services to the developmentally disabled, I respectfully suggest that you don’t try it. The alternatives to caring, cost-effective community programs live in the haunted halls of this institution.
"Each of us have come here for a different reason. I’m here because I’m glad to see an end to this chapter of our history. Never shall I forget the grim reality of what happened just 13 or 14 or even 5 years ago. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children whose bodies were held captive here.
"We must never forget that there once was a place called Laconia State School and Training Center. For those who know of our pain let us take turns reminding us of that it was like to live in Murphy, Powell, Felker, Blood, Baker and Floyd. For those who don’t know, we meed to keep this alive to remind everyone that institutions must never be a way of life for anyone ever again.
"Our work is not over. I ask each and every one of you to recommit yourselves to making a better place for our children to live in. I ask each of you to join me - to look ahead, to work hard in the present, but NEVER to forget the past."
