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ARCHIE'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
ALL Finalists were asked to prepare a brief acceptance speech in case we also were selected for a Spotlight Award. Normally I'm pretty good at pulling something to say out of my hat. I would be happy and the words would come easily. But writing this one was difficult.
Tonight I have a different set of emotions, mixed emotions. At first I was surprised and honored to learn I was a Finalist. With the addition of The Spot Light Award, I genuinely feel I have been touched by an angel. However, it is hard to feel joyful when I wish there had never been a reason to create this Award in the first place.
As I struggled to find the right words, the Award winning Movie, "Life is Beautiful" kept coming to mind.
It is the story of a family who is swept up in the Holocaust and interned in a Concentration Camp. The Father uses his imagination to protect his young son from the horror that surrounds them. He shows him that LIFE CAN STILL BE BEAUTIFUL.
The families of the Mother Emanuel angels...each of them beautiful people in their own right...along with the entire Charleston Community...have exhibited a remarkable ability to pull whatever positives they possible can out of unimaginable evil.
Like the example of the Father protecting his son against the harsh reality of their lives, so have these families set an example of faith, forgiveness, and leadership. My heart aches for their loss...which is OUR loss...but I'm filled with pride for the inspiration they have shown and continue to show...not just to our community, but to the world.
Ultimately the best word to describe how I feel is HUMBLED. I am humbled to be a part of their vision and their on-going legacy.
Thank you, families of Mother Emanuel, for giving us ALL something to hang our hat on.