To the editor:

At a recent Mattapoisett Selectmen’s meeting, a young man from my neighborhood, 11-year-old Alex Craig, made a suggestion that the town honor a native son, the late Milton Silveira, with a memorial at Ned’s Point.

Mr. Silveira played a leadership role in NASA highlighted by important work on the Apollo and Gemini space programs. He also invented a lightweight breathing apparatus for firefighters. Ned’s Point was an attractive site for him while growing up.

Credit Selectmen with a unanimous and, more importantly, genuinely enthusiastic decision adopting the boy’s idea.

Credit The Standard-Times and the town’s weekly newspapers with magnificent articles about this small part of a regular meeting where a boy led men to an important and worthwhile decision. The public now knows the details about the whys and wherefors.

What the public didn’t know until now is how to help Alex achieve his goal without the use of taxpayer money.

Donations to the Milton Silveira Fund should be sent in care of Alex Craig, 77 Aucoot Road, Mattapoisett, MA O2739. The Silveira Family has already pledged $1,000 but more is needed for a bench a tree and a bronze tablet.

Please help a boy’s dream come true.

Brad Hathaway

Mattapoisett