LYNN — Ward 2 City Councilor Obed Matul and his wife, Maribel, said they had an idea to dress up Buchanan Bridge one day while driving back into Lynn.
Monday afternoon, they brought the idea to life, adorning the bridge with 16 American flags with the help of some friends.
Matul said that he wanted to do something to make the area more welcoming, as it’s one of the main entries into the city.
“It’s such a great area,” he said.
Buchanan Bridge, also known as the Floating Bridge, is named after World War I Veteran Matthew L. Buchanan.
Buchanan was from Lynn, and died in France on April 10, 1918 while serving with the Yankee Division.
Matul teamed up with Mike Sweeney, director of veterans services for Lynn and Swampscott, to honor Buchanan for the patriotic holiday.
“We hope as people see these flags over the next few weeks, they’ll pause to remember the sacrifices of those like Sgt. Buchanan that continues to keep our country free,” Sweeney said.
Along with Sweeney and Matul, other volunteers that afternoon included Lynn Veterans Council President Charlie Dineen and Sgt. Major Ken Oswald, Lisa Nerich associate commissioner of the Department of Public Works, the Lynn Police Department, Ward 4 City Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey, and School Committee Member Lennin Peña.
Sweeney gave out a special thank you to the Military Friends Foundation, who donated the flags in honor of Buchanan.
After the flags were hung, Maribel, Matul, and one of their daughters got to work repainting the “Welcome to Lynn” sign that stands at the end of the bridge.
Matul said that he’s continuing his efforts to beautify the area by creating the Floating Bridge Pond Association.
“[It’s] just so we can maintain this area,” Matul said about the association.
He said anyone can join and the first course of action will be painting the bridge white to give it a bright new look.
