Circling back to remember a hero

NAHANT – Thousands of people drive by daily, but how many actually know what is in the middle of the rotary joining Carroll Parkway, Lynn Shore Drive and the Nahant Causeway?There are three flower beds surrounding the field artillery piece, plus a granite memorial marker, all enclosed by lawn trees, and floral landscape, but what?s the story behind the rotary scenery?According to Calvin Anderson, who is a member of the Friends of Lynn-Nahant Beach, the artillery piece is an artifact from the Spanish-American War. The granite memorial is in memory of Don John Aliferis, who died saving a drowning man in 1972. Anderson himself planted three flower beds as an individual project as a member of the Friends.However, Anderson is asking the Department of Conservation and Recreation and his group to move the granite marker, which reads like a gravestone, 20 feet southeast and plant separate flora to overlook the water instead of having its back to it.?The Aliferis family – and I concur – think that it is inappropriate that their late heroic family member?s peace-minded memorial is placed beneath the barrel of the cannon, (which is) an instrument of war,” Anderson said.Joan Breed, widow of Dr. Robert T. Breed, who put the artillery piece on the rotary, said as long as it is there to stay, she doesn?t have a problem with the potential change.?Marking the marker seems sensible,” said Breed, also a Friends member.Joan Breed said the artillery piece was originally in Lynn but was moved to George?s Island in Boston Harbor to protect it from a hurricane.Breed, a World War II veteran who also was a Civil War Roundtable member, worked with the Metropolitan District Commission and former Lynn Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy?s office to move it back to Lynn.?He was dedicated to bring it back to this area,” Joan Breed said. “He felt it belonged here.”Anderson is also petitioning public awareness and reinforcement of the name Aliferis Rotary over the more generic term Nahant Rotary, as it is known today. He suggested putting a plaque there in hopes the public will adopt the name.?It?s officially in memory of a local hero, and it?s a shame we don?t publicize his name more,” Anderson said. “I always remind people.”But Breed felt people will continue to call it the Nahant Rotary.?The Mystic River Bridge in Boston is technically called the Maurice J. Tobin Memorial bridge, and people still call it whatever they want,” Breed said. “It won?t have much of an impact.”Anderson said Friends President Robert Tucker received a letter asking why pathways along the shore were decorated with flowers, but the flowers beds at the artillery piece were empty and neglected. Anderson decided to do something to beautify the beach area.?Calvin (Anderson) was very gracious to take it on,” Tucker said. “He plants beautiful flowers in the spring and waters them weekly throughout the summer.”Anderson said he planted yarrow, violets, and daylilies, transplanted from another adopted public space, Gateway Park on Sagamore Street.