Mayor Brown Visits the Dolphins!

Today Greenfield celebrated Black History Month with a school-wide assembly and some very special guests.  We came together once again to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to the history of our country.   We reflect on the accomplishments of people who lived long ago and think, wow they were really brave, really smart or really talented.  We sometimes forget that very smart, talented and brave people live among us today.  In a few years, they will be the ones making history.   Some of them will be YOUR parents, aunts, uncles, maybe grandparents.   As you listen to them talk about their dreams and listen to their stories, you will learn about what it takes to MAKE  history, to be the ones who change the world to make it a better place whoever you are. 

          And it is important that we listen because none of the people who are now in the history books thought : “Today is the day I will make history”.  What they did was dream a dream and work hard to make it come true.  For some it was writing a book to tell the world about a problem that needed to be changed, for some it was creating a school so that children could learn to read.  Others wanted to be able to sit anywhere on a bus and for a special few, it was a seat in a space capsule.  None of them thought they were so special, just ordinary people doing what needed to be done. 

          Last year we had Master Sergeant Surcey with us.  He was one of  the Tuskegee Airmen, the original Red Tails.  When he passed away, he became a part of history.  Those of you who were here last year had the opportunity to experience history and listen to real heroes tell the stories about how they just went out every day and did their job in a terrible war.  Now we can only read about those stories in books or see them in the movies.

Among our special guests today were some people who are a part of Black American History.  They include: Mrs. Mary A. McFarland a retired teacher and Black  History Director for Greenfield Elementary, Mrs. Mary A. Pearson,widow of the late Rutledge Pearson, Sr.,  Mrs. Future Surcey, widow of the late Tuskegee Airman  Master Sergeant William Surcey and Katherine and Renee Surcey, his daughters, Dr. Charles Bennett, the second Black Doctor in Palatka, Dr. Linda Johnson Bennett, the first female Black doctor in Palatka.

     Another guest, Ananias Ealey presented a stirring rendition of Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "I have a Dream!"  After which Mayor Alvin Brown spoke to our students about their responsibility to do their very best every day and listen to their teachers.  The Mayor was a big hit with the students, shaking hands, talking with them and even tying one student's shoe!

     All in all we had an exciting day!  The Mayor and all of our guests complimented our Dolphins on their excellent behavior and great manners!  For more information, go to the DCPS website and click on the Spotlight on Education tab.  Here are some pictures from today's event.