The new Maine Kennebec Bridge, which officially opened Dec. 5 has sparked Dresden and Richmond elementary schools to do something symbolizing unity.

Principal Mary Ellen Williams, principal for both Dresden Elementary and Marcia Buker Elementary in Richmond, lead the charge to involve the children of both schools, kindergarten through fifth grade, in the Dec. 5 ceremonies.

Students went on buses from each school to their own end of the new bridge and walked to the middle of the bridge where the ribbon-cutting event took place.

“They will be walking as a wellness exercise in keeping with the Richmond Area Health Center’s ideals,” Williams said in an earlier interview.

During the program of speakers and music from the Richmond High School Band, the children joined together for a unique song worded especially for the occasion entitled “Under One Sky.”

Former Marcia Buker music teacher Sue Spaulding wrote the original lyrics for the song and current teacher Kathryn Rende arranged the lyrics to reflect the new bridge, the Kennebec River, and the two towns. Amy Steward, Dresden Elementary music teacher, prepared the students for the choral presentation.

The whole idea of bringing of the two communities together in a “bridging” act goes along with Maine Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Dave Bernhardt’s own remarks about the special time.

“It’s what the bridge and so many others do that is most important, and that’s connecting communities,” Bernhardt said. “The residents of Richmond and Dresden have shown what community means.”

Along the same lines, art students in the fourth grade of both elementary schools have done artwork on bridges and/or written poems about them, which the art staff of both schools directed.

Art teachers Tina Wood at Marcia Buker and Kari McCarthy at Dresden Elementary have planned an art exhibit of the fourth graders’ work at the Richmond Area Health Center with an opening reception Tuesday, Dec. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m.