WS Chronicle

In above photo: Illustration by Ron Rogers for The Chronicle

W-S showed the nation how to handle march, rally

To the Editor:

Greetings and Thanks to All Supporters!

On behalf of the more than 60 members of the March for Voting Rights Winston-Salem Organizing Committee, Kim Porter and I, Mr. Isaac Howard, President of the Winston-Salem Branch NAACP and Rev. Dr. William Barber, President of the NC State NAACP, we would like to simply express our appreciation and say thank you for providing gracious hospitality, protection and professionalism toward the more than 6,000 citizens and visitors last week in preparation for March, Rally and Voter Suppression Trial.

Community leaders and residents from this city and surrounding areas were well received with excellent service.

Visitors who came from cities across the state of North Carolina and many other states told us how impressed they were with our city and felt great hospitality as soon as they arrived.

The City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Mayor Allen Joines and the City Council greeted, welcomed and assisted visitors to our city in a courteous and friendly manner.

We especially want to express our profound gratitude to the professional and efficient police officers of the City of Winston-Salem, and others within our Public Safety Department, who were instrumental in creating an atmosphere for a peaceful demonstration from the start of the week of activities until the end of the week.

Participants felt very safe under the vigilant watch of our public safety officials.

The Public Works and Sanitation professionals extended fine service during the week prior to the march until the end of the various events, including an exceptional job rendered the day of the march and rally.

Due to the heat factor, some of the marchers experienced some fainting incidents; however, because of the excellent training and expertise of the Forsyth County Emergency Medical Service and the Winston-Salem Fire Department, people were given prompt attention and these incidents were taken care of in a professional, timely manner.

Because these workers took care of these emergencies so quickly, the rally and march continued without interruption.

During the educational teach-ins at various libraries and recreation centers in the city, the recreation workers and support persons from the Recreation and Parks Department and the Public Library demonstrated great expertise and professionalism, and we say thank you.

Servants of the people in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County showed the nation how it is done, to protect and to serve, to be government of, by and for the people.

Kudos to all City and County employees who made us proud!

Linda Sutton Winston-Salem NAACP Secretary

Neely School ribbon cutting set for Aug. 1

To the Editor:

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the Neely School Ribbon Cutting scheduled for August 1, 2015 at the school, which is located across the street from 150 Neelytown Road, China Grove, NC.

In the early 1900s, shortly after the end of slavery, Julius Erastus and Katie McKenzie Neely were concerned that their African-American children did not have an opportunity to become educated.

They lobbied family and friends along with the superintendent to assist in building and staffing a one-room school.

Over 1,400 children were educated at the Neely School from 1908–1948.

In 2010, the grandchildren of the school’s founders and school alumni formed a foundation to restore the school building to its prior appearance.

The school is located on the Neely Family Home Site, which also includes a nature trail to the original location of the Neely School.

The school has been restored and the public is invited to attend the Ribbon Cutting, which will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015.

The attire is casual.

Mary Neely Grissom President/Chairman Historic Neely School Foundation Inc.