The Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen was among the honorees at the Media Area NAACP’s 2012 Freedom Fund Luncheon held today, March 24, at The Oaks Ballroom in Glenolden, Pa.
Bestowed on them was the Foot Soldier For Justice Award.
Others receiving the award were Ralph H. Brown, Jr. who sits or chairs numerous boards in Delaware County and is the regional external manager for PECO serving Delaware County and Lower Merion Township; Haverford School Director Lawrence A. Feinberg; State Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D-191); State Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr. (D-188); and The Media-Providence Friends School which was accepted by Head of School William Earl Sissell III.
John H. Stokes received the Lifetime Service Award, as did Marjorie Anne Moat and Ann Geers.
Master of ceremony was CBS 3 reporter Dray Clark, who is a Chester resident, and he did an excellent job of keeping things interesting.
The upside of the afternoon was the mind-boggling beautiful singing of Viola Benson. The only thing more mind-boggling is how her voice is such a secret.
The downside of the afternoon was luncheon fund speaker Rev. Vincent G. Gallagher, Esq., who is a lawyer, pastor and psychotherapist.
Rev. Gallagher said that he is not afraid to give offense. He then told a crowd that was almost entirely Democrat that “Republicans were worse than racists”.
I don’t think that was what George Fox meant by speaking truth to power, Rev.
Also receiving honors were Patricia Coiner for her work with the Black History Month Poster Contest; Ernest Derrickson Jr. for his work with the Media Area Unit Health Fair; Anna Fisher and Erthalene Jackson.
Media Mayor Bob McMahon was recognized from the podium for his work with veterans including the Tuskegee Airmen. It was noted that he recently met with President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.
“Rev. Gallagher said that he is not afraid to give offense. He then told a crowd that was almost entirely Democrat that “Republicans were worse than racists”‘.
I am a conservative Republican who finds Rev. Gallagher’s stupidity offensive.
He is obviously a poor scholar. Remember Abraham Lincoln was a Republican and James Buchanan, the Democrat who he replaced — the one who favored slavery — was a Democrat.