Residents of the Village of Walden and local visitors gathered near 104 East Main Street on August 31 around 6 p.m. to observe International Overdose Awareness Day, a time of remembrance for lost loved ones and survivors of addiction and overdose.

Beginning in 2001, this global campaign aims to memorialize those afflicted by overdose, dispel misconceptions surrounding the subject, and provide support to people in need of recovery.

Walden’s own memorial was hosted by Jody Nicoli, president of the Walden Overdose Memorial Committee, with additional assistance from Sean’s Dream, Hope not Handcuffs, JS Self Care, and Catholic Charities.

“I created the memorial in memory of my friend Jesse, who we lost to an overdose in May of 2020. I’m also a grateful, recovering addict who will be celebrating five years next month,” Nicoli said during the evening.

The memorial featured a chain-link fence raised near Tin Brook’s bridge, adorned with various padlocks representing those lost to overdosing. Additionally, the committee set up an empty, purple chair honoring Joseph Robert Sabato, who passed away from an alcohol overdose in 2019. Sabato’s sister, Stacy, wrote a letter telling his story.

“My story is to tell you about my brother, Joey, my only sibling and almost four years younger than me, but most people would tell you that we were like twins. Best friends, always close, barely fought, we were each other’s biggest supporters growing up,” Nicoli said, reading Stacy’s letter.
Despite going through rehabilitation, Sabato lost his life on November 19, 2019, from stage-four liver disease and kidney failure.

“As Joey laid in the ICU bed, he said ‘I wish every young kid could see me laying here and learn from my story’…I will spend the rest of my life telling a story that he wanted me to tell to hopefully help someone know that they are worth recovering and recovery is waiting for them,” Nicoli continued reading.

After Nicoli spoke, several other residents, officials, and committee members gave speeches and shared stories of both loss and recovery. While listening, residents and visitors silently held candles in vigil for those who passed.
John Ramos, the mayor of Walden, said he lost his older brother to addiction and asserted that the village is a place for consoling and fighting this war.

“The Village of Walden will always be a place and a home for these who are aching and request memories, and dedicate their lives to fighting this war…this is a war, not in the traditional sense, but this is a war that we all need to fight together,” Ramos said.