A splendid Juneteenth

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To the Editor:

The Martha’s Vineyard NAACP expresses its heartfelt thanks to all who made this year’s Juneteenth celebration a sold-out success.

The event began with the invocation by the Rev. Natalie E. Dickerson. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, was read by Tristan Israel, selectman for the town of Tisbury.

Marie Allen, past president of the Martha’s Vineyard branch, inspired us with the historical beginnings of Juneteenth in Texas.

Our speakers, Herbert Foster, Ann Bassett, Michelle Vivien, Tobias Vanderhoop, and Julien Givigi, shared their varied life experiences and impressions on racism.

Three members of the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative, Amoy Anderson, Shawna Brown, and Shavanaé Anderson, shared the importance of healthy eating.

Allie and the Krunch performed two of their original musical pieces, to the delight of the audience.

Our guests enjoyed a wonderful meal, with donations from Stop & Shop, Cash and Carry, Waterside Café, Deon’s Restaurant, Linda Jean’s Restaurant, Season’s, Chilmark Water, Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Café, the Scottish Bakehouse, and all those who brought their favorite family dishes.

Balloons were donated by Rose Bud Balloons of Oak Bluffs and use of a projector by Edu Comp of Vineyard Haven. Flower decorations were donated by Helen Mary Linton.

Special supporters of the event were C’est La Vie, Pastor Marcia Buckley of the Apostolic House Of Prayer of MV, and Ronnie de Luz, Ph.D.

Door Prizes were given by Bunch of Grapes, Polish Day Spa, the Edgartown Bookstore, and Mocha Mott’s.

The branch would like to thank our local media for their support of this community event — MVTV, Plum TV, MV Times, and the Vineyard Gazette.

We would also like to recognize the persons who worked so hard to make this a memorable day: Carrie Tankard, Nikeya Tankard, our Bubble Girl, Cheyenne Robinson, Kenneth Gross, Ms. de Luz, Ms. Dickerson, , Chief Erik Blake of Oak Bluffs, Alex Palmer, Vera Shorter, David Linton, Jerry Smart, and Terrance Blackman.

The Martha’s Vineyard Branch of the NAACP is grateful for the spirit of generosity that exists in this Island community.

Barbara Ann Linton

Chairman

Juneteenth Celebration 2011

Edgartown