It might have been Friday the 13th, but in Leominster the day was all about "Rocky."
For the first time, a party was held Friday afternoon at the Leominster Veterans Center to mark Private Rockwell "Rocky" Pond Day. Fitting into the theme were the treats offered: A Rocky Day cake made by Andrew Theriault, Rocky Road ice cream and Rocky Road cookies.
Not far away was "Rocky," sitting in his lifeguard stand on the frozen surface of the pond that bears his name. For the last few weeks, people have been buying chances for $5 each, or three for $10, to guess when he will fall through the ice.
At the same time, they are raising money for the five veterans’ organizations that make up the Veterans Center: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1807, American Legion Post 151, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 24, Vietnam Veterans of America Firebase 116 and American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 38. Those funds will be given back to the community in various ways.
The legend of Private Rockwell "Rocky" Pond, as posted on the Veterans Center website, goes that he hails from the third floor of 98 West St., now the parking lot for the Leominster Senior Center. He attended Saxon Trade School, specializing in metal works. He left in the middle of his senior year to volunteer to serve in the Korean War.
"While in Korea he fought in many battles to include the Chosen Reservoir," the legend goes. "Private ‘Rocky’ once spent three long winter months on the ice at Chosen Reservoir fighting the enemy and fighting the bitter cold. During his third month, as spring neared, the ice began to thaw and Private Rockwell Pond fell [through] the ice but was saved by his fellow soldiers.
"After the war Rocky returned home to Leominster and found employment at Leominster Ice Company, where he worked for many years," the website stated. "Rocky’s favorite past time has always been fishing including ice fishing. It was the middle of March 1954 while he was ice fishing on the pond off of West Street and a group of kids were skating near by, when one of them fell [through] the ice. Without any hesitation Rocky raced over to where the youngster went down, searched under the ice till he found him and pulled him to safety. As a result of his heroic action the City of Leominster renamed the pond off of West Street to ‘Rockwell Pond’ in his honor."
Tickets are available at the Mayor’s Office at City Hall, the Veterans Center on West Street, the Leominster Senior Center next door or online at www.leovets.org. Payment can be made at the Veterans Center, by mail to Rocky Ice Out Contest, 100 West St., Leominster, MA 01453, or through PayPal or a credit card at www.leovets.org.
The deadline for entries is March 28. If Rocky goes through the ice before then, the closest guess received no later than 24 hours beforehand will be the winner.