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In an emotional moment on Tuesday night, the Sudbury Select Board voted unanimously to permanently designate May 3 as “Be Like Zach Day” in the Town of Sudbury.
The proclamation honors the life of Zach Wall, a beloved 16-year-old member of the community who passed away from cancer at the age of 16. Zach’s parents presented to the Select Board on Tuesday, with his father, Jonathan Wall, describing Zach’s deep empathy and a commitment to caring for others through principles his family call “Zach’s Rules for Life.”
According to the Be Like Zach website “The idea for Zach’s Rules was to try to turn all the horror, pain, sadness and grief into something that others could grab onto and take away from this awfulness and be able to apply the lessons we learned from Zach and his journey to improve their relationships and their lives.”
While the formal request on the meeting agenda originally called for the designation of a single day, May 3, 2026, Select Board Vice-Chair Janie Dretler introduced a motion to make the observance an annual event every May 3, which is Zach’s birthday.
“Zach Wall was a beloved member of the Sudbury community whose life reflected kindness, empathy, and a deep commitment to caring for others,” the official proclamation reads. It encourages all residents to observe the day by “performing acts of kindness, generosity and compassion in honor of Zach Wall.”
The legacy of “Be Like Zach” is well-established in the community through Zach’s Bridge, a nonprofit organization founded in his memory. The organization provides critical support to families facing childhood cancer and works to inspire others to lead lives defined by service and connection. Donations can be made here.
The beautiful presentation from Zach’s father, Jonathan Wall, can be viewed at timestamp 21:00 below.
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