Excitement was in the air Sunday afternoon – the Adventists Against Violence drum corps marched in bright blue shirts, 105 members of the Charlotte Amalie High School JROTC and hundreds of others crowded the Charlotte Amalie waterfront in anticipation of the next few minutes.
The plaintive tones of a shofar – the ram’s horn trumpet – begging for victory over violence, played by Joel Gifft, prefaced the start of the 10th Annual Walk/Run Against Violence. Then, with the "go" signal of veteran race director Therese Hodge, the runners were off on the two-mile course that weaves through Frenchtown to Addelita Cancryn Junior High School and back, ending with a ceremony at Emancipation Garden.
The participants were running to honor the memory of 18-year-old University of the Virgin Islands freshman Jason Carroll, who lost his life to gun violence 13 years ago, on a nearby downtown street.
Jason was the son of Celia and James Carroll, who since their loss have the been the voice of the community in efforts to combat gun violence. Months after their son died, Celia Carroll started a chapter of Mothers Against Guns in the Virgin Islands, with James’ full support.
Celia and James Carroll together established the Jason Carroll Memorial Fund, which offers scholarships to high school seniors planning to attend the University of the Virgin Islands. Proceeds from the run and from sponsors help to fund a first-year, full-tuition scholarship at UVI for a Virgin Islands high school senior.
While watching the runners bounding back down the waterfront, one onlooker was decidedly out of place. Shane DeGannes, the V.I. Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy runner who simply wins everything he enters, sat entering numbers on tags Sunday. With a rueful smile he said he had attended his familial duties. It was the day of his five-year-old daughter Devin’s ballet recital.
Charlotte Amalie High School teacher Carol Mestermaker, a Special Olympics stalwart, had one of those athletes with her Sunday, Ajene Sekou, a 10th grader who said she was raring to go. Later, Mestermaker said the girl did "really well, though we had to stop a couple times."
All sorts of people, and at least one four-footed soul entered the race – Fritz, the nine-month old
dumpster find of KristenWilson and Mark Grimes.
"Fritz won at the Wagapalooza on St. John yesterday, too," said Grimes.
Senate President Shawn-Michael Malone, sporting what was likely the flashiest outfit, bright gold and red running shorts and hat to match, lauded the Carrolls for their efforts.
"We’ve got to stop the flow of guns into the territory. Puerto Rico has asked the president for help. We need more assistance," the senator said.
Deputy Police Chief Dwayne DeGraff commanded the attention of one and all with a somber .
speech, asking the community for more than it is giving.
"We are having a good time, today, but it goes beyond this. We have to work together every day of every week of every month of every year. Don’t look the other way," he said. "Let’s stop this violence which affects people for the rest of their lives. Don’t look the other way, it’s all of us."
Celia Carroll introduced this year’s scholarship winner, CAHS senior Devon Williams, who read his essay. As she does every year, she said gun violence has escalated to an epidemic.
"It has become the leading cause of death among young black males," she said. "During the past few years, many lives have been touched by the devastating acts of gun violence. Directly, or indirectly, we all share the pain of the families and friends whose loved ones are killed. We need members of the community to join these organizations to stop this war against violence in the Virgin Islands. Families should not bury their loved ones because of violence.
Carroll called on youngsters in the audience to come to the front to take the non-violence pledge. With heads bowed, the youngsters repeated after Carroll:
"I will never bring a gun to school; I will never use a gun to settle a dispute; I will use my influence with my friends to keep them from using guns to settle disputes. My individual choices and actions when multiplied by those of young people throughout this country, will make the world a safer place. Together, by honoring this pledge, I and other young people of society can reverse the gun violence, and make the world a safer place."
The occasion brought together all sorts of people and all sorts of memories. A memory board or those killed by gun violence in the last year – which included a simple plea in a child’s handwriting: "RIP everyone who got shot" – focused mainly on tributes to David Payne, Ulla Muller Elementary School teacher who was gunned down in front of his home last September.
Payne’s sister, Rochelle Payne, traveled from Pennsylvania to join in the run for her brother. She sat quietly on the side of the Garden with her mother, Blanche Frazier. Both women, though happy to talk about David, were still feeling the loss, still dealing with the shock, the grief of such sudden death.
His mother said simply, "He was my only son." Rochelle Payne said, "We were just a year apart. We were like twins growing up. I just don’t understand. He was like a mentor, a tutor, he always gave. He loved teaching."
Her mother added,"He left three young sons."
Gov. John deJongh Jr. declared Sunday "Crime and Gun Violence Prevention Day" in the territory, calling on residents to participate in the 10th Annual Walk/Run Against Violence.
The governor’s statement said, "As a community of concerned citizens, we must show solidarity in our resolve to put an end to violence. Only through the collaborated efforts of parents, schools, churches, non-profits and government agencies, can we protect the future of our children and all the residents of the Virgin Islands."
The event is sponsored by Fintrac Inc., St Thomas Radiology Association, STAR, 284 Connection, My Brother’s Workshop, International Capital & Management Company, and Safe Neighborhoods VI.
Results of the 2013 Mothers Against Guns 2-Mile Walk /Run
Overall male: Michael Thompson, 11:18
Overall female: Keshema Fleming, 14:32
Oldest participant: Roberta Sebastian, 86
Youngest participant: Careem Peets, 4
Most participants from a single school: CAHS ROTC, 105
Most participants from a single organization: Scotia Bank, 22
Age group winners
Males 6 and younger
1 – Malachi Webbe, 26:43
2 – Careen Peets, 29:31
3 – K’Jai Dnastorg 40:42
Female 6 and younger
1. Maya Cohen, 32:01
2 – Sylvie Cohen, 38:32
3 – Taea Leerdam, 39:28
Male 7 – 12
1 – Leodanis Matos, 14:39
2 – Fabian Vincente 16:16
3 – Jaheem Thomas 17:09
Female age 7 – 12
1 – Brittany Leonard, 16:16.1
2 – Alexandra Midler, 16:48
3 – Kiandra Christopher 20:47 1
Male 13 – 15
1 – Christopher Murphy, 13:25
2 – Scott McKenenzie, 15:15
3 – Charvis Azille, 15:19
Female 13 – 15
1 – Trevorique Adams, 16:15
2 – Nagely Ramirez, 17:29
3 – Mikalea Carty, 20:10
Male 16 – 19
1 – Lukata Samuel, 11:45
2 – Francy Gasan, 12:46
3 – Franz Gasan, 12:56
Female 16 – 19
1 – Shenqua Maynard, 16:57
2 – Augustina Barbuto, 17:51
3 – Shanice Laurent, 21:22
Male 20 – 29
1 – Shane Nolan, 11:54
2 – Michael Fortier, 12:37
3 – Connor Murphy, 12:51
Female 20 – 29
1 – Melissa O’Brian, 15:04
2 – Katie Tannenbaum, 15:18
3 – Kristen Tartaglia, 15:20
Male 30 – 39
1 – Brad Kappel, 12:33
2 – Korby Parfitt, 13:39
3 – Michael Reiter, 14:19
Female 30 – 39
1 – Kristin Wilson, 14:45
2 – Lynnsy Jones, 15:21
3 – Rachel Miller, 17:02
Male 40 -49
1 – Eddie Butcher, 12:52
2 – Donald Rench, 13:17
3 – Roy Rogers, 14:57
Female 40 – 49
1 – Monica Midler, 17:30
2 – Angela Williams, 19:12
3 – Jessica Monrose, 19:13
Male 50-59
1 – Steven LaPlace, 13:26
2 – Rudolph Carty, 18:19
3 – Carlton Fielteau, 38:03
Female 50 – 59
1 – Kim Bourne Vanneck, 21:43
2 – Jackie Huggins, 24:22
3 – Burlie Montoute, 28:18
Male 60 and older
1 – Roy Simmonds, 19:44
2 – Neville Gonsalves, 21:50
3 – Phillip Ravneau, 30:34.2
Female 60 and older
1 – Mandlyn Howard, 27:51
2 – Phillippa Webbe, 28:21
3 – Evelyn Hastings, 30:18
