Dear Editor:
On May 23, 2004 Mothers Against Guns and Jason Carroll Memorial Fund Run held the Run to Stop Gun violence in the Virgin Islands. Even with the rainy weather on most of St. Thomas, God held up the clouds on the waterfront and allowed the Run to go forward. We got great support from the community, and had more than one hundred participants. We want to thank those Virgin Islanders who participated in a fine event, and particularly those youngsters who took the Pledge against Gun Violence. We are hoping that the Run and the Pledge will help to do something to reduce the plague of gun violence in the community. Because of the Run and the generous contributions of those who participated and our sponsors, our goal of raising money for a scholarship fund for a deserving Virgin Islands student was achieved.
Thanks go out to Governor Charles Turnbull and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards for proclaiming May 23, 2004 Mothers Against Guns Day and Jason Carroll Memorial Day and inviting the community to reflect on the causes of violence and to participate in the events planned for the day. We also give our sincere thanks to our sponsors: People Moving Forward Foundation, Inc.; the Law Offices of Joel Holt; the Law Offices of Marjorie Rawls Roberts; Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig; Dudley Clark and Chan; and the India Association of the Virgin Islands. We are grateful for the sponsorship of Bellows International and West Indies Corporation for supplying the runners with water and other refreshments. Finally, we thank Therese Hodge, the St. Thomas Association of Road Runners, the Virgin Islands Police Department, Colonel Clarence Hansby and the Civil Air Patrol and all of our volunteers for the great assistance that they gave us on the day of the Run in making sure that everything went smoothly.
We cannot forget the special assistance of Police Commissioner Elroy Lewis, Assistant Police Commissioner James McCall and Deputy Chief of Police Elvin Fahie for approving a firearms amnesty for the day of the Run. Although Assistant Commissioner McCall, who personally appeared at the Run, did not collect too many weapons, we are hoping that next year, we will have a Territory-wide amnesty and we will take a substantial number of guns off the street.
This was the first year of the Run to Stop Gun Violence in the Virgin Islands. In addition to the serious subject that we want Virgin Islanders to reflect upon, the Run was a good event for the community. Congratulations go out to the medal winners in the different age categories and to our overall winners, Charlie Charles, the top female runner and Bill Thompson, the top male runner. We also congratulate Addelita Cancryn Junior High School for being the school with the most participants and winning the trophy to be displayed at the school. We hope to see great community support next year.
Thank you, Virgin Islands.
Celia A. Carroll, President
Jason Carroll Memorial Fund,
Mothers Against Guns, Inc.
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