Written by Daniel 10/4/2010

If I had a million dollars, I would give it to people who needed it for food. I would give it to people who need food because I would have to be one of the people who don’t know what they are going to be able to eat or don’t know if they are going to eat at all that day. Then with a little bit of the million dollars I would donate to science or something like it because I think some of the things they invent are kind of cool and save a bunch of people a lot of money. Then with the last little bit I would put in a metal box and bury it somewhere because some time in the future someone would find it and would be all excited about it and would be able to use it on something they wanted.

Davis Family Fund Issues

I would like to say that I am incredibly grateful for the support we received from the community regarding our August 2^nd accident and Daniel’s death. I never could have expected or hoped for such a response as we witnessed. We received meals for several weeks, were the object of many fundraisers, and were much prayed for. A fund, the Davis Family Fund, was set up for anyone wishing to donate monetarily.

It has been a mere four months and nineteen days since the accident and Daniel’s death. As those of you who have lost a loved one can attest, the pain and anguish and veritable hole in our lives will never go away. We are just now coming to the point where we find out what the insurances are and are not covering. We also have just now been informed that the Davis Family Fund is not going to be further used to assist us in the financial difficulties experienced due to the accident.

It appears that “it has been decided” that a large amount of money has been given to us from the fund and that the rest of it is to be divided up amongst the children who were involved in the accident. For those living, e-bonds will be set up and given to each child upon coming of age. Daniel’s share will be donated to the Hubbardston Center School Playground Fund.

For the record, I had been thinking of donating to the Playground Fund any remaining monies after we had taken care of accident and burial expenses. The money came from the community; I felt that it would only be right and fair to return something to the community.

However, it appears that without consulting with us, other people know better what is needed for our family. When I asked how much money is in the account, the woman I was speaking to, who is one of two people on the account, refused to tell me. Likewise, she would not tell me who exactly had made these decisions.

It took us four months to be able to bury Daniel simply because we wanted to bury him at home and one person did not like the idea. I think it is a shame that one person is now taking something given freely by the community to benefit a family who experienced great tragedy and using it for a purpose for which it was not intended.

Because of the trauma of the accident and the death of our son and brother, the children and adults have been attending grief support groups through the Carriage House in Worcester while awaiting further trauma and grief counseling. Last week, on December 13, as we were leaving a candle lighting ceremony and supper, we were involved in yet another accident. Fortunately, this did not result in the loss of any life but the van will require much work if it is not considered totaled.

This second accident, while not as bad as the first, was still traumatic for everyone involved coming as soon as it did after the first.

Not only are we still coming to terms with Daniel’s death, as we always will be, and the effects of the first accident, now we have the added stress of dealing with the aftermath of the second as well. It would be a great blessing if those who are involved with decision making for the Davis Family Fund would see fit to let us use it as we find necessary rather than attempting to take upon themselves the responsibility of making decisions for a family who is experiencing something I hope they never have to personally experience.

The Bus

I think the bus right is pretty much the same except now I have to walk to the bus stop instead of going to the end of the driveway and the ride is longer. I think it's very stupid that they don't make good french-fries anymore. I don't like taking all my books for all my classes everywhere. I don't use my locker because it's too much work to open it. I liked Friday because I did not get very much homework. I don't like writing unless it's just a little bit at a time. I like math and social studies the most. Actually my favorite subject is lunch. I don't like it when we get a ton of homework. I like when I go to lunch because I don't have to work, no homework, and I can talk to my friends. I don't like that I don't have some classes with friends. But I think over all it's kind of boring.

The first entry in Daniel's 7th Grade Journal, written 9/10/2010

The Egg

I was asleep in my bed one night. It was very dark outside then all of the sudden I heard a knock on the front door. I got up, picked up my flashlight and went to my bedroom door then I made my way down the stairs. At first when I opened the door I thought it was another dead rat that our cat had left there. Then when I shined my light on it I realized that it was shaped like a huge egg. I picked the object up and went back to my room closing the doors quietly so that I wouldn’t wake my parents up. Then I fell asleep again. The next morning I had completely forgot about the egg so I got up, ate breakfast and went to the bus stop. After school I went to put my pack in my room. As I put it down, I saw the egg and remembered what had happened the night before so I got a hammer and cracked the egg. It was empty.

Written by Daniel on 9/17/2010

Daniel, 7th grade

This is Daniel's school picture from last year. I think it is a good one.

Hubbardston health board approves burial on family land Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

                Hubbardston health board approves burial on family land

HUBBARDSTON — A local family will finally be able to bury their 14-year-old son who was killed three months ago in a car accident in Minnesota.

The Board of Health voted last night to grant a temporary tomb permit which will allow Pamela Roper to bury her son Daniel Davis on family land on Partridgeville Road. The family may, in the future, return to the board for a permanent permit, which would require a town meeting vote.

After the temporary permit was approved, Tomas Larson, chairman of the Board of Health, apologized to Paul Flint, Ms. Roper’s husband, for the process taking so long, but said the board had to abide by a legal opinion issued by town counsel. The process was delayed after town counsel expressed concern about burials on private property. Interim Town Administrator Brian Bullock worked with the family and proposed the temporary tomb permit.

Mr. Flint said last night that when the burial will take place will depend on the weather. With heavy rain expected and a possibility of snow on Saturday, he said the family would wait to see how the weekend weather develops.

— George Barnes

Hubbardston couple gets burial OK Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Hubbardston couple gets burial OK

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

HUBBARDSTON — A compromise may finally allow a family to bury on their land the 14-year-old son they lost three months ago

Selectmen voted last night to recommend to the Board of Health that it issue a temporary vault permit to allow Pamela Roper and her husband, Paul Flint, to bury Mrs. Roper's son, Daniel, on land near their home on Pitcherville Road.

Daniel died Aug. 2 in an accident in Minnesota while the family was headed to Idaho. Since then the couple have tried to have him buried near their home, but the town's legal firm issued an opinion that various requirements needed to be satisfied for it to happen, including receiving approval from town meeting.

Interim Town Administrator Brian Bullock told selectmen that with a temporary vault permit, the family can go forward with the burial and if they wanted the permit to become permanent, at some point they would have to seek town meeting approval.

The board voted 2-1 to support issuing the temporary permit. Selectman Matthew Castriotta voted no, saying he does not approve of burials on private property.

“I think it should go to town meeting as it has always gone to town meeting,” he said.

Selectman Ernest Newcomb said he is not opposed to burials on private property, but consideration should be given about how the grave would be cared for should the family someday sell the land. He also asked what it would cost the town if the family went to town meeting to get the permit made permanent and voters rejected it.

“Who has the burden of paying costs of disinterment?” he asked.

Mr. Bullock said the town would not be responsible for the costs because it would be on private property.

Mr. Flint, who was at the meeting, said he was happy with the selectmen's vote and hopeful the Board of Health will approve the permit at its meeting tonight. The board meets at 6:30 p.m.