40th Anniversary of the Ladybug Story - It all started here in Franklin, MA

In 1974 Ms. Johnson was teaching her 2nd graders at the John F. Kennedy School in Franklin, MA about the state symbols. They have learned about the state tree, state fish, state bird but there was no state insect and they all thought there should be one. The children agreed on a ladybug. They wrote their idea on a petition form and had their representative sign the petition. On the day of a public hearing, Ms. Johnson and her second graders got on the bus and in their ladybug costumes went to the Sate House in Boston to testify about their idea why ladybug should become a state insect.

The committee told the House of Representatives they believe this ladybug bill should be signed into a law. So in a few weeks class headed back to Boston to the House of Representatives to hear the reading of the bill. They have visited and wrote to their representatives to ask them to vote for their bill and they did. The bill was sent to the Senate and the Senate agreed this bill should become a law. Governor agreed as well and invited the class with their teacher to Boston to watch him sign their bill into a law and the rest is history... The Ladybug Bill H.5155

The John F. Kennedy School students and staff celebrated the 40th Anniversary with the state, school and town officials. Senator Spilka, Senator Ross and Representative Roy talked to the children about the bill and importance of ladybugs and presented the school and the school's principal Ms. Joan Toye with special citations from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Town of Franklin and Franklin Cultural Council is also celebrating the 40th Anniversary via "Ladybug Spots" - a Public Art Project. Twenty five fiberglass ladybugs sponsored by local organizations and decorated by local artists will be on permanent display through the town. One of the ladybugs is being donated to the school and all the students will help decorate it. Claire Griffin, Chair of the Franklin Cultural Council, was helping students to get this project started.

The Kennedy School Ladybug has a quote on it's back from John F. Kennedy: 

"We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference for us." 

THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE HELPED TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS AND ANOTHER WONDERFUL MEMORY THIS SCHOOL AND TOWN WILL TREASURE!