Those visiting Buckmaster Pond recently might have noticed a special addition – a beautiful stone engraving honoring the life of Eddie Thomson.
Workers put the finishing touches on the engraving May 14, fittingly using the color black, which was Eddie’s favorite.
At the top, it reads “Ne Obliviscaris”, which in Latin means “never forget”. And at the bottom is “Non Oblitus”, which is “not forgotten.” The clan mottos represent his Scottish ancestry, and bear a promise to Eddie and his memory.
Eddie was the adored son of Robert and Jessica Thomson, the loving big brother to Fiona Thomson, and best friend to his dog, Sammie. A beloved first-grade student at the Sheehan School in Westwood, he died at the age of 6 on November 21, 2017 when he was hit by a car in the crosswalk at Pond Street and Lake Shore Drive.
Eddie’s memory has lived on through annual food drives, as providing meals to those in need was important to him. Buckmaster Pond was also a special place to Eddie; it wasn’t far from his home and he’d often walk there with his family and Sammie, making it a meaningful place for the engraving to honor his life.
The project was a result of a collaboration between the Thomson family, John Hickey of the Westwood select board, Todd Korchin and his Westwood Department of Public Works staff, former town administrator Mike Jaillet, and landscape architect Andrew Mazzola of Norwood Monumental Works.
“It was a meaningful process for all involved, through pain, to come up with something that was really reflective of the beauty of Eddie,” Hickey said.
The engraving is in the middle of a compass, which spoke to Eddie’s love of scouting. One of the arrows of the compass also points to the direction of the Thomsons’ home.
There are two benches in the area, which have quickly become a favorite spot for visitors to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets at Buckmaster. Next to one of the benches sits another special part of the design - it’s a replica of Sammie, with a red collar and a tag that reads: “Eddie’s best friend”.
