Dinner with Concord Olympian Laurie Baker

Green beans with slivered almonds, turkey with stuffing, baked potato, cranberry sauce, frosted chocolate sheet cakes with salutations, and donations for girl's hockey started a great town celebration for Laurie Baker.

On the evening of March 21, 1998, the people of Concord dined at the Elks Club to welcome their first gold Olympian--a woman! Tall, lean and strong, she stood out from the crowd. Her hair and skin radiated light. She was dressed simply in tan pants, a gray jacket, and black heeled shoes. Later she donned her US team jacket.

A proud father Dave Baker carried the Olympic gold medal Laurie won as #8 on the US Women's Hockey Team. As Dave showed the heavy weight of the medal, its engraved details, and carefully woven silk ribbon, he explained each Olympic award required an entire day to create. Laurie's mother, Sharyn, greeted everyone warmly. She had an arm full of color copies of her daughter photographed with team, with medal, and in Olympic garb. Laurie willingly autographed these souvenirs.

Guests viewed the photo displays of Laurie's ice hockey career--she started in white skates shortly after learning to walk! A video monitor played hockey scenes. Thirty or more tables of nine were decorated in patriotic colors. A small scroll tied in red, white, and blue was placed at each table setting. Inside was the following:

"With special pride we watched you represent your country as a member of the first USA Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team. Even further, we witnessed you achieve the ultimate athletic reward for hard work and determination: an Olympic Gold Medal. No long speeches or tears, but; to your greatest fan, brother Dave; to all our relatives and friends, all your mentors, the special Concordians who arranged this wonderful celebration and to you, Laurie, thank you, Dad and Mom."

While everyone enjoyed their dinners there was lots of talking. Smiling, happy faces finally turned to the podium arched with colored balloons. At that time selectman Jim Terry presented a proclamation to Laurie from the Town of Concord. Both the State and Congress issued congratulations as well. Carl Gray, owner of Assabet Sports Arena, talked about being in Nagano, Japan with Laurie and about her excellence in the girls hockey program. Lawrence Academy also recognized Laurie for academics. Laurie herself concluded with a humble, brief thanks for this wonderful hometown gathering.

Putting on coats to brave the snowy evening outside, Concordians left the dinner feeling that this village had indeed raised a good child!