LACKAWANNA, N.Y. - If you’re familiar with the corner of South Park Ave. and Ridge Rd. in Lackawanna, then this probably looks a little unusual. There’s an absence on these sidewalks, an absence named Barry Meadows.
“Barry always cheered me up when I was down. He would help me cross the street. I could always count on him for a smile and a wave, or a peace sign," said local resident Mikki Biggs. “Just a fixture. Just a guy. Just a Lackawanna resident that was full of joy and wanted to share it.”
“He’s a big fixture and you drive by him and he always has something nice and positive to tell you or to say to you," added Marcy France. "Some people might think he’s a little strange but he’s not once you get to know him.”
Barry has been entertaining drivers on this stretch of road for as long as these people can remember, which is why they wanted to come out to his favorite corner tonight.
"Someone had posted on social media that Barry had ended up in the hospital last week and someone else had made a comment, “You know, we should gather around this corner and wave to him and do a little video.” Here we are," Mikki explained.
For a man who has given them so much happiness, they hope at this moment to return the favor as best they can. The plan was to celebrate the man by doing what he loved to do where he loved to do it, and film the event and take it to show Barry during his hospital stay, a visual representation of all the lives this one man has touched. “Every day I’d come down and drive my son to school and I’d see Barry in the morning and Barry in the afternoon, and I miss my Barry," Marcy said.
Mikki wants to make sure Barry hears this very important message. "Just to let him know that you’re not alone. This is your city, Lackawanna is your city, and these are your people, and they love you and miss you, and we want you to come home and get better.”
“Get well soon Barry! Lackawanna misses you!”