We Will Remember Them

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the infamous executions of 13 of Liberia's most illustrious leaders. And today, for the first time since it happened, relatives and friends filled every pew at Trinity Cathedral for a memorial service in their honor. We could not do this during the ten years of Doe's regime, and for the last fifteen years we have been at war.

Twenty-five years is a long time to mourn without closure. Even after today, though, I don't know if all hearts can truly be still. But we have done what we needed to do for our loved ones and for ourselves, and we have chosen to focus on love, forgiveness, and reconciliation in a new Liberia.

13 men:
Our grandfathers
Our fathers
Our brothers
Our uncles
Our cousins
Our godfathers
Our leaders
Our mentors
Our friends...

We will remember them.


Please Note: You do not have to set up your own blog to make a comment. You may use the "anonymous" identity, and write your name (if you wish) in your post. We look forward to reading thoughts and memories from relatives and friends

1

Hundreds of friends and relatives poured out of Trinity Catheral at the end of the service to head to the memorial site together. The floral wreath is decorated with photographs of the 13 men. The large portrait following is of Richard A. Henries, Sr., Speaker of the House of Representatives.

2

Mai Bright Urey with the portrait of Cyril Bright, Minister of Agriculture. The portrait on the right is Charles D.B. King, Member of the House of Representatives.

3

Philip Parker waiting to march in the procession with a portrait of his father, P.Clarence Parker III - Chairman of the National Investment Commission & Treasurer of the True Whig Party.

4

At the memorial site in the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street where the men were buried. We stood staring at those portraits for ages, some of us wondering about what could have been. My grandmother's house is opposite the cemetery, and I clearly remember us watching the mass burial from her front window in April 1980.

5

Several people walked up and wiped the faces of their loved ones or whispered words from their hearts. Here, a woman wipes the face of C.Cecil Dennis, Jr., Minister of Foreign Affairs. The only time I have ever seen my Dad cry was when we heard that Cousin Cecil had been killed.

6

Yvette Chesson Wureh passing out Liberian flags meant to symbolize love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and "Liberty and Justice for all" in a new Liberia. The portraits (l-r) are of D. Franklin Neal, Sr., Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, and James A.A. Pierre, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

7

The Right Reverend Edward W. Neufville II officiated at the memorial site. In the portrait on the right is Joseph J.F. Chesson, Sr., Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

8

We Will Remember Them

Cyril Bright, Minister of Agriculture

Joseph J.F. Chesson, Sr., Minister of Justice and Attorney General

C. Cecil Dennis, Jr., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Richard A. Henries, Sr., Speaker of the House of Representatives

D. Franklin Neal, Sr., Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs

P. Clarence Parker III, Chairman of the National Investment Commission and Treasurer of the True Whig Party

James T. Phillips, Jr., Former Minister of Finance, and Former Minister of Agriculture

James A.A. Pierre, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia

John W.F. Sherman, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Transportation

Frank J. Stewart, Sr., Director of the Budget

Frank E. Tolbert, Sr., President Pro-Tempore of the Senate

E. Reginald Townsend, Chairman of the True Whig Party

Our grandfathers
Our fathers
Our brothers
Our uncles
Our cousins
Our godfathers
Our leaders
Our mentors
Our friends...

We will remember them.