Drew’s Field Dedicated

March 22, 2009

drewsfield10.jpg

drewsfield23.jpgA tragedy that touched a community and turned into a dream became a reality Saturday morning with the dedication of Drew’s Field in Walnut Hill.

Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died in a January 2008 accident on Highway 97. Drew’s Field was named is his honor, bringing wee ball to the Northwest Escambia Little League for the first time ever.

“He loved to play ball with his dad,” Jessica Cloud, one of the people instrumental in making the field a reality, said Saturday morning. “He would hit the ball off the palm of Danny’s hand and take off running. Oh how he loved to run!”

The first three attempt at in vitro conception were unsuccessful for Danny and his wife Cyndi. But on the third try, they were successful. The embryo was rated as on a “3″, when typically only those rated as a four or five survive. Drew beat the odds and was born a happy healthy child. For that reason, Danny wanted his little boy to wear jersey number “3″ during his first game.

Saturday morning, Drew’s number 3 jersey was at Bradberry Park, in a glass case on a memorial board surrounded by tiles written by loved ones in his memory. As Drew’s Dream Team prepped to play their first wee ball game on the field, Cyndi Marlow Wendt stood alone behind the field looking quietly at that number 3 jersey in the glass box.

“It is Cyndi’s prayer that that you cherish  every moment spent watching your child play on Drew’s Field as it represents her dream of seeing her little boy play ball,” Cloud said at the dedication ceremony.

For a photo gallery from the dedication of Drew’s Field, including a chance to read the memorial tiles, click here.

For a photo gallery form the first-ever wee ball game at Drew’s Field, click here.

To read our story about Drew’s Field from last week, click here.

The Drew’s Field organizers offered their thanks to many local people and organizations for making the field a reality:

  • NWE Board of Directors -  for agreeing to build Drew’s field
  • Ruritan Club – for their donation and support of the project
  • Buddy Bartlett – clearing, leveling, and erosion control
  • William Wendt, Jason Ging, and Larry Cook – layout of field and laying sod
  • Saye Erosion Control and Sod – donating sod
  • Richard Beck and Andrews Sod – discount on labor to lay sod
  • Solutia – monetary donation
  • Poarch Creek Indians – donation of fence
  • Century Dept. of Corrections – labor for fence installation
  •  Bondurant Ace Hardware in Century – discount on materials
  • Drew’s PaPaw (Richard Marlow) – spreading topsoil and clay
  • Drew’s Pa (Danny Wilson) for help with materials during fencing
  • Academy Sports – gift card for equipment
  • Bratt Elementary PTA — bleachers
  • Ronnie Cloud aka BBQ Man -  preparing fund raiser sandwiches and those who purchased
  • Everyone who contributed to the yard sale, or donations at the bank
  • Volunteers that worked a a yard sale
  • NorthEscambia.com for their continued coverage
  • Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union for bank account
  • Pensacola Pelicans for donating auction items
  • All family and friends for their love and support.
  • Michelle and  Alan Purvis for building shadowbox frame
  • Preferred Materials for donating concrete  for dugouts
  • Archer Western for pouring concrete
  • Sandy Brown for hours of volunteer work
  • Pam Brown for assistance with labor crews
  • and “most of all Jessica Cloud for organizing everything”

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
drewsfield12.jpg

Comments

7 Responses to “Drew’s Field Dedicated”

  1. Annette Faircloth on March 26th, 2009 12:23 pm

    This is a wonderful story about People and Communities coming together for a great cause. Pay it Forward!!!! God Bless #3 and #3 and family

  2. Caitlyn on March 24th, 2009 12:30 pm

    There is not a day that goes by that im not praying that they could still be here.
    I miss Drew and Danny. Cindy i have kept you in my prayers scince this happend, even before.
    I keep praying for you and megan, and Hunter, Good Luck.:)
    .

  3. Anna on March 23rd, 2009 2:56 pm

    There’s not a day that goes by we don’t think about Danny and Drew. I talk to Carson a lot about Drew and tell him stories about him hunting with his daddy and how he got the name “stinky” and we just laugh. I have a Christmas picture in his bedroom with Carson, Clay and Drew playing with Francine’s Santa Claus and he tells me all about them and what they were doing. He has not forgotten his cousin “Drew Marlow” as he would say. I have explained that Drew and his daddy are in heaven and we will see them one day. We miss both Danny and Drew so much.
    Cyndi I am so proud of what you have done to keep Danny and Drew’s memory alive.
    We love ya’ll!

  4. lisa on March 23rd, 2009 1:19 pm

    Well done Jack and Mickey!!! that was great. That community shows a lot of love and support. My heart goes out to the family. I only hope that we as parents and coaches can do our best to make these kids enjoy baseball or any sport. We all like to win and if we don’t, and our kids can still say wow what a game. Well thats enough for me. Just remember we never know when that might be our last one. Life is precious don’t take it forgranted. Again my heart goes out to Drew and Danny’s families.

  5. melanie on March 22nd, 2009 11:02 pm

    What a Blessing it was to be there on Satuday for the ceremony. I would like to point out that all the NWE teams are wearing Drew’s #3 on the back of their caps and visors for this season. I am very Blessed in knowing that my son which is a member of the “Reds” T-Ball team will be able to look back at his cap years from now and know he was able to share in this season of remembrace for Drew. GOD Bless you Cyndi for ALL you have gone though. Thank You for sharing your precious family with the NWE family. We will all be blessed for many years to come when we all get the chance to be on Drew’s Field.

  6. Jack Lynch on March 22nd, 2009 2:18 pm

    A BASEBALL PLAYER’S PRAYER
    God grant me wisdom, to tell a strike from a ball,
    to know where to throw and never to fall.
    Keep me always in the base line, running straight and true
    and I’ll look for your sign, to stretch one into two.
    God give me vision, to see every pitch,
    so if a player needs help, then I will see which.
    Let me always hustle, so I’ll be at my best
    and take pride in myself, in sports and the rest.
    God be my strength, when I throw the ball
    when I’m far from home plate, or against a wall.
    So I never miss a base, please guide my feet,
    bring me home safely, so my job is complete.
    When I help younger players, let me always give praise,
    so they’ll see you in me, in all of my ways.
    God please guide our coach, to be fair and smart,
    to teach us to be good, let it come from his heart.
    Let me take a loss, just as well as a win,
    to do any less, is surely a sin.
    As long as I can play, let me make my parents proud,
    as proud as I am, when they yell MY name out loud.
    However my games end, let me always have fun
    and if Heaven has All Stars, I want to be one.
    When my games here are over and my seasons are done,
    let me play on your team, just like your son. ~ Amen.

  7. Mickey Powell on March 22nd, 2009 6:52 am

    Webster Defines Great As “Being Beyond The Average”.
    This Is A Great Story About Great People , Doing A Great Thing For A Great Family.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports