By Sara Mattes
Sarah Cannon Holden has served our community for the past 3+ decades — as Finance Committee member, as a Selectman, and most recently, as Town Moderator.
She also has been an active advocate for civic engagement and the electoral process, campaigning for issues and candidates that work for nuclear arms control, peace and social justice.
Sarah Cannon Holden has devoted her life to service to the causes she embraces and to the community she loves. She has always been “a giver.” All should model such commitment to service to others.
Be a giver… be like Sarah.
In 2010, when she stepped down from her role on the Board of Selectmen, her colleagues (Gary Taylor and me) crafted a slide show and script to honor her and send her off with good humor and affection. What we created then is applicable today. (Apologies for missing slides)
Top Ten Reasons Why Sarah Cannon Holden is One of Lincoln’s Irreplaceable Assets
10. Her awesome communication skills… no one else can sit down and free hand a poster quite like Sarah!
9. Her ready smile, calm and good cheer… in spite of what mayhem some colleagues might foment.
8. Her no-nonsense Yankee thriftiness applied to all endeavors… no fancy landscaping companies for a Cannon!
7. Her willingness to look at all the facts… even if it leads to an inconvenient truth.
6. Her constancy in devotion to Lincoln traditions… especially the Fourth of July!
5. Her willingness to take the wheel and drive the agenda… again and again and again.
4. Her pride in her town and her enthusiastic embrace of the role as cheerleader.
3. Her ability to be the reliable “Decider” …yes, she will dispassionately collect the facts, make an impartial assessment, and then act for the good of the whole.
2. Her desire to encourage newcomers to lead.
And the #1 reason why Sarah Cannon Hold is one of Lincoln’s irreplaceable assets…
1. Her demonstrated abiding and selfless love of and commitment to the next generation.
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This is a beautiful, well done and accurate tribute, Sara M.
We are fortunate to have such remarkable Sarahhs in our midst.
Mary Ann