A Tribute
To The Grounds That Was A Home

And there used to be a home on these grounds
Where the fields were warm and green
And the children of trying times played their games
With the reckless and abandon joy of youth
And the air was filled with a wonder of better tomorrows
Drawn from the nuns and the counselors who did care
Yes, there used to be a home, right here
And there used to be Bear Mountain Park trips
And summer evening movies in the courtyard
And many a New Year Eve dance
That ended with the midnight kiss
Under the watchful eyes of the good Sisters of Charity
These events and more filled our youth
And there used to be a home, right here
And there used to be the roar of cheers on these grounds
From our soccer field, from our football field and from our pool
We witnessed the fall of Rockland’s best against the likes of us
And on the canvas, on the stage and on paper
Some of us painted, acted, sang and wrote
The joy, the hurt, the love and the hope of those years
Yes, there used to be home, right here
And although the fields are warm and green
We now find a new meaning on these grounds
With disbelieving eyes the old buildings are gone
And now we the children of trying times are adults
Wandering up and down the new Outdoor Center grounds
With friends and children of our own
Trying to capture a glimpse or two of what we were
............
Yes, there used to be a home, right here

(AgaLinks 2008 )

JOSEPH "CHINO" VELEZ
(1950s-1960s)