Charnecia Green awarded $1,000 scholarship
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- This year’s 83rd commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club Fire included a $1,000 scholarship, the unveiling of a monument listing the names of the fire’s victims, and a message by Mayor Dan M. Gibson, who served as the guest speaker.
The event took place on Saturday, April 22, at The Rhythm
Night Club Memorial Museum, at 5 St. Catherine St. The museum tells the story
of the fire that killed more than 200 people, including Walter Barnes and
members of his band on April 23, 1940.
About 100 people gathered for the commemoration, which is
held each year by Monroe and Betty Sago, the owners and operators of the
museum. The theme this year was “Mission Possible.”
The program began, as it has for the past 15 years, with
the siren blast of a fire engine from the Natchez Fire Department. The engine blew
its horn three times.
Betty Sago said the day’s program was held to honor the
209-plus victims that died in the club fire in 1940, as well those who survived
that “went on with their lives and made a life for themselves, even though they
carried a burden for a number of years.”
Betty said that she and Monroe decided years ago to
become “the conduit to help these people tell their stories over the years.”
During the ceremony, the Sagos awarded a $1,000
scholarship to Charnecia Green, a student of Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, who
plans to attend Alcorn State University School of Nursing in Natchez. The scholarship
was made possible in part by Magnolia Bluff Casino and Hotel, which donated
$500 to the museum, with a request for it to be matched.
“I think it’s a great and wonderful thing that the Sagos
got going here, and we want to be a part of it,” said Willie Minor, assistant
manager for Magnolia Bluff, as he presented the check to the Sagos for the
scholarship program.
In his presentation as guest speaker, Mayor Gibson acknowledged
the work and the passion of the Sagos, as well as the important place their
work holds in the city’s history.
“Where we are, we are sitting (and) we are standing on
sacred ground,” Gibson said. “We are here in the midst of Natchez history, and
this history is truly amazing. Today is such a beautiful testimony to the love in
our city and the love that the Sagos have for this site and for those who perished
on this site 83 years ago and for their descendants, their family members who
are still affected by this tragedy that happened in our city.”
Gibson said that some other structure could have been
erected on the site at 5 St. Catherine Street, the site of the museum, and the
story of the fire could have been forgotten, were it not for the Sagos.
“Because of these two, this has been a mission possible
from day one,” Gibson said. “And because of them, it has brought people here
from all over the world to share in the story of what happened here and what
should never be forgotten here. In addition to that, they have made a way for
countless young people to work here to serve here and also to receive
scholarships here.”
Gibson said the work of the Sagos must not go unnoticed.
“…Let it not go unnoticed that their story here and the Rhythm Night Club story
here, can be an inspiration to us in other parts of our city,” he said.
Gibson’s presentation was followed by the unveiling of
the monument that features 209 names of the people who perished in the fire.
Participants in the ceremony included Latonya Sago, who
served as program guide and Muriel Vivians, who served as hostess. Pastor Byron
K. Sago provided the opening prayer and Ana Barfield opened the ceremony with a
song. Linda Williams and Asia Reynolds also provided songs, as did Lawrence R.
Winston.
Maysa Vivians shared a reading of “How to Become a Good
Friend.” Wilbert Whittley, Natalie Lyles, and Kaitlyn Hayes, assisted with the
door prizes. Linda Birsong, Tremeka Ford, Martha Gooden, Kathy Lyles, and Linda
Williams assisted with the refreshments.
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