Charles Person and his wife, JoEtta, take a moment to listen to student speeches during the event.
(Photos by Alyssa Richardson)

WARSAW — Yesterday students at Warsaw Community School Corporation were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience history in the flesh. Students from Warsaw Community School Corporation fifth, eighth and 11th grade classes had the opportunity to listen to the story of Charles Person, one of three surviving original Freedom Riders of 1961.

Person shared his experience as the youngest freedom rider, detailing his life during the ride and providing insight to the time period. The rides began May 4, 1961, with 13 individuals, both white and African-American, seeking to protest segregation in the south. Riders intended to leave Washington, D.C., and arrive in New Orleans May 17.

Person explained the group met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. along the way. Though the riders invited King to join them, Person noted he refused and, instead offered a warning to the group that they could be killed crossing into Alabama. Although no one was killed during the journey, many were beaten by mobs along the way.

Among the more gruesome attacks was a fire bombing of a bus just ahead of Person’s in Anniston, Ala. Riders were also beaten in Birmingham, Ala. Despite the adversity, they continued to forge forward alongside police and federal escorts.

Though the strife they faced along the road continued, the spirit of the riders could not be broken by fists, bats, fire or being imprisoned. Instead, the riders — whose ages spanned from 18 to 62 — continued to travel forward. Through their courage numerous others were inspired to pursue change and segregation signs finally came down.

Although experience with social injustice may be hard to relate to for many students, one central theme resounded from Person’s experience — “you can create change.”

“When he went on the freedom rides he was 18 years old. Imagine yourself just a few years from now being able to go through what Mr. Person went through,” noted Dr. David Hoffert, superintendent of Warsaw Community School Corporation. “Our dreams are possible because of people like Mr. and Mrs. Person and the sacrifices they made.

“I think if you got one thing out of today, it is they did not see themselves as extraordinary people. So the question is, what about all of you? What are you going to do to go above the current tide of today and change our world to something better? It is why we believe so much in the idea of enriching other people’s lives. Out here in the crowd might be the first person to cure cancer … Out here in the crowd might be the first person to go on a manned flight to Mars. We don’t know, the future is in front of you. We want you to be encouraged to realize that everything in the future is possible. It is not written yet,” concluded Hoffert.

Students honored Mr. and Mrs. Person through music by the fifth-grade, eighth-grade and junior choirs from Lakeview, Edgewood, Lincoln, Washington, Madison and Warsaw Community High School.

(From left) Paul Marandet, Ophelia Luu and Louje Helser were honored with the MLK scholarship award.

Three students were honored for their academic excellence and community service with the Dr. King award. Students Ophelia Luu, Warsaw; Louje Helser, Warsaw; and Paul Marandet, Warsaw, shared how King affected their own views on the world and their role within it.

“I was born in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world,” started Helser. “My life wasn’t easy, but I was hoping for a better future. Haiti is a dangerous place to live because of all the the violence that happens. There were times where I would not eat food and would wonder if I would eat the next day, or week sometimes. There were times I didn’t get to go to school. I learned an important lesson. Even if you grow up in a cruel or unjust life, you can’t give up.

“Then a miracle happened. Through the grace of God I was chosen to be adopted and come to America. It was always my dream to come to America. I thought life was going to be easy, but it wasn’t always easy. My freshman year here in Warsaw I learned about racism, verbal and physical. It was also hard to learn the language and pass all my classes. But I worked hard and passed all my classes. Today I help my parents with a school in Haiti and it is completely free thanks to people in Warsaw who sponsor kids and teachers.

“Dreams do come true I never thought I’d ever graduate and go to college. I am living the Martin Luther King dream and I’d like to leave you with this note — all can have equal opportunity to succeed in America if they persevere and work hard.”