Remarks by Dawn Gardfrey

Photo by Craig Reubens
Photo by Craig Reubens

My name is Dawn Gardfrey. I was 15 when I came from– back from Georgetown to the States – I survived Jonestown – probably one of the few survivors that everybody knows, ’cause I was so young at the time. But I just had to say thank you to the committee, Fielding, John, Jimmie, whom I was lovingly adopted as their little sister as well as the sister of Brenda, Joel, Sandy, Ava Cobb, and I thank Terri and them for just accepting me and loving me, as well as a whole lot of family. I represent the young people, I represent the children, I represent our hopes, our dreams, I represent our life, our joy. We were happy, we were a family, we were just– we were in paradise, despite what anyone says, what anyone believes. It was a joy to get up every day to those faces, to those loved ones. My mom was there– I lost my mom, Beverly Mitchell, but I’m grateful, that she left doing what she loved, which was being in the nursery. She also adopted a young Guyanese child, as many of them did, while she was there. And I’m just grateful– I lost my two sisters, my brother, two cousins, and I just want to say thank you, because now I can have closure. Now I can have peace. And I know that they are okay. And I know I have a place to come and visit them to say hello to let them know how I’m doing. And I just want to say thank you. I’m going to miss– and I love them. Thank you.

Applause.