Introduction
On June 3, 2010, the Larry Miller memorial bridge was unveiled to the Miller family. The bridge sits at the entrance of JA City. All JA students will cross the bridge into adulthood for the day.
Greg Miller read the following plaque that is mounted next to the Miller Bridge at the beginning of the ceremony:
"Throughout the span of his life Larry H. Miller reached seemingly unachievable goals by crossing over obstacles both deep and side. Inspired by The Bridge Builder, a poem that graced his office, Larry forged a foundation of connections and support for generations to come while building a legacy that magnifies the triumph of the human spirit."
“Children are the messengers we send to a time we’ll never see. That’s why Junior Achievement programs are so vital, inspiring young people to realize their potential and to be successful in life. “ –Larry H. Miller
The Bridge Builder is engraved on the bridge.
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide –
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This Chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
Will Allen Dromgoole
The Miller family then cut the red ribbon to open the bridge, crossed and cut a second ribbon on the other end. Once both of the ribbons had been cut the ceremony guests joined in crossing the bridge. The Miller Bridge inside Junior Achievement City is also symbolic of students entering the City as 5th graders once they cross the bridge they become adults and have the opportunity to experience running a business and run Junior Achievement City as adults for one day. Then while exiting Junior Achievement City and going back over the bridge they turn back into 5th graders.
After all the guests crossed the bridge, Greg Miller expressed his heart felt appreciation that this tribute to his father was one of his favorite ways to honor his dad. He knew his dad would have loved it and how much Junior Achievement meant to him.
Greg & Gail Miller.
Greg Miller gives some words before the ribbon cutting.
Greg Miller cuts the ribbon.
Close up of Greg Miller.
The Larry Miller Bridge with guests.
Gail Miller with Paul Van Slooten, President of Pepsi Bottling Co. & Phil Cofield, President of Junior Achievement.
Greg Miller, Rob Jibson, Gail Miller, Dick Prows & Phil Cofield at the bridge.
Close up of Greg Miller, Rob Jibson, Gail Miller, Dick Prows & Phil Cofield.
Materials and labor for the bridge provided by:
Questar, Intermountain Wood Products, Williams & Sons Engraving and Certified Furniture Services
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