Second, you are delighted by the amazing mix of people. Young and old, folks of all walks of life, all brought together to see and enjoy the elegance and yet uniquely urban feel of the edifice. It is hard to find a place with more smiles.
We recommend the bridge be named for the ultimate bridge builder -- Michael Van Leesten.
A man, who just out of college was in the South and in danger fighting for freedom and civil rights in his early 20s.
A man, who at 80-years-old, was still working to build an enduring organization that trains workers and uplifts spirits.
Van Leesten, like the bridge, was smooth — cool like a New Orleans sax player. He was the mix of those juxtaposing features. A man who not only could work and live with every community, but far more importantly could bring diverse people together.
He lived an amazingly accomplished life — athlete, civil rights advocate, community leader, entrepreneur, father, friend, and mentor. He did them all with an elevating touch.
His talents were immense. His passion was unwavering. He touched everyone. To not have met Van Leesten and enjoyed his leadership, vision, and energy for the community, would be to never have visited a beach in Rhode Island. You really missed out on one of the state’s best experiences.
And equally, like the new bridge, he was a man that put a smile on everyone’s face.
The Van Leesten Bridge — it just sounds cool.
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