The Roanoke Branch NAACP invites you to come join in celebration of its 17th Citizen of the Year Awards Program, a Freedom Fund-raiser, on Friday, May 22 at the Tanglewood Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center.
This year’s distinguished speaker is Mrs. Sharon J. Letterman-Hicks, executive director/CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC).
The community is also encouraged to come celebrate and pay homage to Roanoke’s native son, Lt. Colonel Michael J. Scales, currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to his enlistment immediately after graduation from high school, Colonel Scales resided in the Lincoln Terrace Housing Development. Within a year of enlisting at age 19, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon returning to the US, receiving officer training and obtaining two separate Master’s degrees he served as an officer on various Air Force Bases and on a variety of complex assignments. He has also accumulated several major awards and decorations to include: the Meritorious Service Medal w/Silver Oak Leaf cluster, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia).
Col. Scales Rose from basic Airman in 1990 through enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer to Lt. Colonel in December 2013.
Award Recipients include: Arts, Ms. Yolanda Franklin; Business, Sherman Lea, Jr.; Education, Dr. N.L. Bishop and Jerel Rhodes; Education (Youth), Blake Barnes, Aaliyah Gray, Jamyra Ball and Jamal Hale; Media, Leonard Wheeler and Mrs. Kianna Price-Wade; Medicine, VTC School of Medicine & Research Institute; Religion, Rev. M. Sylvia Ball, .D M.Div; Lifetime Achievement, Rev. Theodore J. Edlich, III; R.R. Wilkinson Memorial Award for Justice, Tom Cain and Antwyne Calloway; President’s Award, Women United for Community Action, (president, Ms. Carolyn Patterson); and Service to the Nation Award, USAF Lt. Col. Michael J. Scales,
This exceptional evening will begin with a reception and hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m. with a cash bar available. The red carpet will also be spread out by the Roanoke Times paparazzi with everyone being asked to be photographed. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m. concluding this year with a dance.
Tickets, at $60 per, with tables of 10 available, may be purchased at The Roanoke Tribune, 2318 Melrose Ave., NW or by calling NAACP Branch Freedom Fund chair, Ms. Cleo Sims, 540/353-2159 for additional information.
