As I was dusting a book shelf today, I pulled out an old town report (Fiscal -
1980-81). On May 21, 1981 there was a dedication ceremony of the New Field Stone Memorial commemorating the sight of the former Pilgrim Memorial Grammar School and a new sign designating the area as the Richard H. Arruda Memorial Playground by the Board of Selectmen.

The Memorial contains one of the original tablets from the front of the former Pilgrim Memorial School and a bronze plaque commemorating the site of the school.

The beautiful Pilgrim Memorial School was built in 1920 and stood at the location of the present Arruda Tennis Courts.  This famous school building was attended by generations of Wareham pupils and was destroyed by fire on July 7, 1966.

Former teachers of this school attending the ceremony were:  Rose Pederzani, Ann Tooker, Olive Caires and Louise Westgate.

The inscription on the Tablet reads: THIS TABLET IS PLACED TO COMMEMORATE THE TERCENTENARY OF THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS 1620 - 1920 "DO NOT BASELY RELINQUISH WHAT THE FATHERS WITH DIFFICULTY ATTAINED."

The Richard H. Arruda Memorial Playground was previously dedicated to Richard H. Arruda, who was born on April 29, 1948, attended the Pilgrim Memorial School, graduated from Wareham High School, and was killed in action with the U. S. Marine Corps in Vietnam on September 12, l968.


My town, my school, my teachers, my friend.


To the citizens of Wareham who want our charter "updated" and not rewritten, but to continue with our current form of government...........and the the citizens of Wareham who want to keep the Chief of Police's job civil service..................and the citizens of Wareham who want to keep Westfield as open space and for family and recreation use.............................keep fighting the current BOS.       Remember these words.

''DO NOT BASELY RELINQUISH WHAT THE FATHERS WITH DIFFICULTY
ATTAINED."