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Grassroots group to celebrate Bermuda’s national heroes

Grassroots organisation the Bermuda Young Progressives today offered their programme for a celebration of community-based heroes to be held this Saturday.Press officer Cleveland Simmons said: “The real idea behind all of this is for our children to learn about Bermuda’s national heroes.”The group said its May 14 Heritage National Heroes Convention, to be held on the steps and lawn in front of City Hall, is entirely separate from Government’s National Heroes Day.Seating begins at 11pm, with Deputy Governor David Arkley arriving at 12pm. Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling will open the convention, and United Bermuda Party senator Michael Dunkley will deliver a tribute to Sir Jack Sharpe.Mr Arkley will present Heroes Papers to relatives of Roosevelt Brown, EF Gordon and Sir Henry Tucker.Mr Simmons said: “Students from Victor Scott Primary School will be speaking on EF Gordon, Dellwood Middle School students will talk about Roosevelt Brown, and Mount St Agnes Students will present the story of Sir Henry Tucker.”There will also be remarks by historian and activist Eva Hodgson, and St George’s Mayor Kenneth Bascome. The event continues with an open microphone for “seniors, retired politicians, teachers and other citizens”.Music will be provided by Compound Band, Chewstick, Native Percent and other artists. The event is to finish at 4pm.In a statement today, the Bermuda Young Progressives said: “The National Heroes Convention to be held on May 14, 2011, is not part of the PLP Government programme but has been called by supporters of the Young Progressives within the Bermuda community. It is a grassroots convention of celebration and nominations for our community based heroes.”The organisation said it has also compiled a list of Community Heroes, including Austin Thomas, Fern Wade, Ottiwell Simmons, Rolland Hill, Clarence Hill, Rick Richardson and Kenny DeFontes.They said: “The Community heroes will be honoured this Heritage month and at our other community events, such as the National Heroes Peace and Love Children’s Picnic to be held on June 24 at Shelly Bay.”