Taking it to the Top, Franklin Ladybugs to Meet Another Governor

Above the "ladybug kids" of 1974, some of whom are reliving their trip to Beacon Hill after 50 years, on Friday.

In 1974, something was bugging the second graders at Kennedy Elementary School in Franklin. They were puzzled that among all the symbols in the Commonwealth, there was no state insect. Since ladybugs are considered good luck and protect plants from pests without being harmful to gardens, the children and their teacher considered the insect worthy of becoming the Bay State’s official state bug.

These second graders swarmed the State House while wearing homemade ladybug costumes and visited lawmakers to make their case. After some heroic efforts by these pioneering students and their teacher, involving a petition, testimony before a legislative committee, and letters to legislators, the ladybug became the official state insect in 1974.

On Friday, October 4, 2024, some of the same ladybugs, along with family and friends, will return to the State House for a 50th Anniversary celebration and tour. Organized by State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), the Ladybugs will also meet and have their picture taken with Governor Maura Healey. They will be also joined by the family of their teacher, the late Palma Johnson during the State House visit.

“Although five decades have passed since H.5155, An Act designating the Ladybug as the official bug of the Commonwealth, was signed into law, the passage of time has not diminished the importance of their achievement and timeless inspirational story,” said Representative Roy, “Their efforts and dedication in 1974 showed how anyone with a good idea can affect change. It was the ultimate civics lesson for these students and we will celebrate their accomplishment on Friday.”

One of the students in the class took that civics lesson to heart. Twenty years after the bill signing, Jim Vallee was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served Franklin for 19 years. He is expected to attend the anniversary event on Friday.

Their historic accomplishment by the Franklin students is now part of the State House lore and is featured on its website (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/cis/ciskid/kidlbs/lbsidx.htm) and celebrated in a booklet distributed in the building. The accomplishment was also featured several years ago on an episode of WCVB’s Chronicle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weoanYKnVKM).