•. '' R~1ne1"?-l~e~g t oR n1.ernber the 913 Ei,res·:Lost ~t Jonesto\Aln" SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2006 EVERGREEN CEMETERY 6450 CAMDEN STREET OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 11:00AM ~~l'k~t'//1 {jj))_ ._!If nona ,) J{,;,,,oN/ CEO, Cherishing the Children/Guyana Tribute Foundation Dear Family and Friends, Welcome to the 28th Annual Guyana Tribute Services. We appreciate your presence today in honor of the 913 hard working amazing American citizens of Jonestown. Today we are memorializing them and the dreams which they attempted to bring to fruition. The 281h year anniversary comes at a time in history that exemplifies the dissatisfaction of the American people. This last election proved that. News interviews with families around the globe stated that people are not happy, they are not happy with politics, their community, their lives or the prospect of their future. They stated before and after the elections that those issues that are near to their hearts; good education for their children, health care for everyone especially their seniors, economic security, good paying jobs, unity and peace are not coming to fruition. We now see psychologist, life coach's, self help classes and seminar invitation's on every channel in the news and on special daily news programs i.e. Good Morning America, etc. giving people positive affirmations, best books to buy to "ensure" their happiness and ways on how to improve your daily life. As it is today it was then in the 70's, before and after our loved ones went to Jonestown. They had a concern for the welfare of their children, seniors and themselves. To understand why they went to Jonestown to be subjected to the horror of Jonestown we must understand the facts surrounding the People's Temple Church and not just how our loved ones died but how they lived. Our family lost 27 family members including our mother, Fairy Norwood and the youngest victim of Jonestown my cousin, Charles Garry Henderson, Jr. Although I was never a member of Peoples Temples and ended up rescuing/kidnapping, my son from my family as they were raising him while I traveled and preached as an evangelist, these loving people were the kindest and bravest most selfless people you would have ever wanted to meet. Our loved ones were deceived! They were held in captivity by Jim Jones and we now need your help in remembering them As I call on everyone here and the public to support our efforts in erecting the Memorial I continue to receive mixed emotions. Many have come to know because of the facts revealed while others just know in their hearts that our loved ones were murdered. Because the public at large does not understand what happened or why these senseless deaths took place there is a stigma that still surrounds this tragedy wherein religion and belief have become mixed up with manipulation and politics. People believe that they willingly consumed the flavor-aid instead of being forcibly injected or forced to drink the poison. , The truth is, the People's Temple Church was made up of good, earnest people who desired equality and security for themselves and their families. Jim Jones promised them a utopian society, free from racial, sexual and political barriers. Who wouldn't choose that?" Jim Jones elevated himself to political and social favor by developing programs that did , in fact, assist Bay area and Los Angeles citizens who were hungry, homeless, and drug-addicted. He invited people of all backgrounds into his church. He befriended people of stature in politics, religion and entertainment. But, this was a cover for the subversive activities later discovered, including murder and extortion. When his shiny exterior became tarnished, he manipulated many of the church members to move to Guyana, South America, where they would be free to live without scrutiny. After Congressman Leo Ryan traveled to Guyana to investigate Jones and was murdered with part of his party, the mass murder occurred. Know this that the 913 people of Jonestown did not choose to die. The 276 children did not choose to die. We speak of those who die with dignity. Let's talk about these wonderful people who lived with dignity and honor their memory with a Memorial. They lived and died with idealistic dreams and were willing to pay the price of being in a hot jungle, with no 20th Century accommodations, or air conditioning etc., to make their lives comfortable and easy. We cannot forget them, because they not only represent what was, but sadly, what still is today ......... people searching for a "Better Day, a Better World, a Better Life". We need your support today to erect the Cherishing the Children Healing Memorial Wall in memory of the 276 children, their families, Congressman Leo Ryan and the UPI news crew who perished in this incredible act of violence. The survivors and surviving families of Jonestown have resolved, with the public's help, to erect this memorial. The monument will be placed in the Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland, California where 406 bodies lay in a mass grave who are mostly children . In the spirit of those who honored the tragic passing of their loved ones in events such as the Jewish Holocaust, the Columbine shooting, the Vietnam War and most recently, the tragedy of 9/11, we envision the erection of this wall in memorial to the Jonestown Massacre. The children in this brochure perished in Jonestown without a fighting chance and we must say; "Never again ........ gone but not forgotten." Although the donations have come in slowly over the years, the monies, which remain in escrow for the Cherishing the Children Healing Memorial Wall, still continue to gain interest. Senator Dianne Feinstein appointed the late police psychologist, Dr. Chris Hatcher to the surviving families for counseling. Dr. Hatcher became the first signature on the memorial wall bank account, along with former Human Rights Commissioner Rev. Eugene Lumpkin. Rev. Lumpkin was appointed by then Mayor Frank Jordan as our liaison to San Francisco City Hall. Dr. Hatcher and Rev. Lumpkin joined me as we opened the Jonestown Memorial Wall Fund with our own money. We have always had four signatures on our bank account. Also, it is mandatory that two signatures are required in order to remove any funds from the account. The Jonestown Memorial Wall Fund account is always available for public viewing. We are not a part of any other groups collecting monies for any type of memorial in the name of the Jonestown victims. We are the official group who received a liaison from City Hall. As in all Memorials there is struggle; some fought to keep Dr. Martin Luther King's holiday and Memorial from being erected, but Dr. King's family continued with the help of the public to bring honor to his memory. Although, we have experienced the same thing, we forgive those who have tried to hinder our progress and our efforts. We also forgive those who would try to make the world believe that the people wanted to DIE, which is absolutely, positively not true. The staff remains vigilant in their efforts to erect the wall, which will have a three-fold purpose: To honor the sanctity of the innocent lives that were lost; to raise public awareness that you never give up your ability to think for yourself,· and to question everyone and everything! I implore you by making two requests: 1) To help us erect this Historical Memorial Wall by making a donation today by placing your donation in the envelope with the donation sheet provided. 2) Contact your friends, business owners, corporations to make a donation of granite, inscribers or a contribution. We are 501(c) 3 tax-deductible. A percentage of the funds will be donated to students in building their future by giving them scholarships to attend college or technical school. Jacque Behar is our scholarship director. You can send all donations to: KAIPERM (FCU) 2101 BROADWAY ST., OAKLAND, CA. 94612 attn: SHARON, or you can give your donation to our treasurer today in the envelope provided with the donation page to REV. EUGENE LUMPKIN and you can send all letters with your sentiments about the victims with or without your donation to: DR. NORWOOD, PO BOX 3330, HOLLYWOOD, CA. 90078. The wall will consist of seven black granite panels inscribed with victims' names (including those of Congressman Ryan and his party) with the names of children in a heart. Dr. Maya Angelou has agreed to write a dedication for the 20-foot wall. It is imperative that we have a physical illustration that the living has not been forgotten. While donations of any amount are appreciated, people can Adopt-a-Name of the infants for $40, of children for $276, and each adult for $913. We have spoken with several Architects and one Oakland developer said, 'To build a fitting Memorial and at the minimum the Memorial will cost $250,000. The wall is needed because it is a symbol of their lives and that they were human beings. It represents healing. The Memorial Wall will allow us the opportunity to pause and reflect our experience and stand as a Monument to others of our ability to heal. It is our vision to one day run our fingers across the names of our lost loved ones, embrace the spirit of their lives and continue in the love that was shared by them to us. Please give us your support to erect the "Cherishing the Children Healing Memorial Wall." as we heal.