WE SALUTE OUR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES!!
We are hosting the 2013 Spirit of Freedom honors to area African Americans who were the first to graduate from the Lafayette County, MO high schools that had finally integrated in 1956. Come hear their personal stories at the Friday Night Fish Fry, June 14, 2013 from 5pm to 8pm at the Community building, Fairground Park in Higginsville, MO. Herman Gant is the moderator assisting the honorees to share their stories. Trivia and music is also part of the evening's activities. Fish fillet dinners will be sold for a $10 donation as a fund raiser for the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation which is a non-profit organization under 501C3.
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM HONOREES CLASS OF 1956
HIGGINSVILLE HIGH: TRAVIS BENTON, JAMES CALBERT (deceased) , REVEREND WILBUR CONWAY, MYRLON EDWARDS, EDWARD HAYNES
FREDRICK SMITH.
LEXINGTON HIGH: JAMES BOLTON (deceased) , SOPHIA BOLTON HAYNES (deceased) , JOHN L. SLAUGHTER (deceased) , ROBERT LEE SMITH, NINA MILLER DIXON.
ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL: ZELMA WEST RICHARDSON
We ask that others from the Higginsville High School , Lexington High, and Odessa High Schools Class of 1956 and those who were in the younger grades attend this ceremony and be in support of their class members. Also, the families of the deceased graduates are being contacted to stand in for their loved ones.
Special recognition and honors will be presented to the graduates by the superintendents of the representative high schools and other dignitaries. The honorees will be given presentations on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the opening ceremony at the Ed Schwitisky 4-H building, Fairground Park, in Higginsville MO.
Being on the other side of history, we now recognize the historical significance of this past hour. We are forever grateful for all communities who helped to make the transitions in our county smooth and safe for all students.
Let it also be known that in Lafayette County, MO “Juneteenth Matters to Us!”
No comments:
Post a Comment