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|  Kingston Wroolie of Brainerd releases his butterfly in Breezy Point - photo by Paul Boblett  Dorothy Johnson, Diane Williams, Grant Bowers, Bonnie Hiniker and Gary Bakken following Bowers presentation at Breezy Point City Hall - photo by Joanne Boblett  Max and Addie Hewitt of Darien, Connecticut look for their butterfly with grandmother Linda Hewitt of Breezy Point during the 5th annual butterfly release in Breezy Point - photo by Paul Boblett  A released monarch rests on a flower in Pelican Woods Cemetery - photo by Paul Boblett  The release of the butterflies at Pelican Woods Cemetery and Nature Trail - photo by Joanne Boblett | 5th Annual Butterfly Release in Breezy Point“I told the butterfly to give my daddy a kiss” was 4-yearold Kingston Wroolie's heart touching comment after he released a butterfly in honor of his father Samuel Voss, currently serving in the military in Iraq. He was one of approximately 200 people who gathered to honor or memorialize a loved one by participating in the 5th annual Butterfly Release at the Pelican Woods Cemetery and Nature Trail in Breezy Point on Saturday, August 15, 2009. This was the second time Kingston, of Brainerd, attended this meaningful ceremony set in a peaceful and majestic setting. Breezy Point Mayor JoAnn Weaver emceed the event, which featured music by Paige Reiger, a prayer by Eagle’s Nest Church Pastor Mark Patton, and a short talk on monarch butterflies by Grant Bowers, program coordinator of “Monarchs in the Classroom”. Volunteer Larry Neer read a list of those honored before the dozens of butterflies were released. The annual event has grown every year and was the brainchild of Dorothy Johnson, who splits her time between Breezy Point and Florida. Johnson said she read an article in a Florida paper about a similar event and thought it would be a nice way to celebrate the Pelican Woods Cemetery. Bowers gave an informational presentation relating to Monarch butterflies at City Hall that was attended by about 50 people before the release. His visit was the result of a Pelican Lakes Conservation Club grant. Bowers noted the beauty of the cemetery and encouraged completion of a butterfly garden and the planting of milkweed, where cocoons are most commonly found. He also stated that Breezy Point could participate in a monitoring study for states east of the Rocky Mountains that gather information on migration that can be used in climate study. For more information on the monarch monitoring program, visit www.mlmp.org. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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