Members of Pursuit to Haiti Honored for Outreach Efforts Rockland County lawmakers have recognized Haitian officials, local organizations, a team of local public safety experts that recently completed a volunteer pursuit to earthquake-ravaged Haiti yet others who've provided assistance to Haiti and its people.
The recognition ceremony was led by Legislator Jacques O. D'I Michel before an audience of more than 150 people at the County Legislature Chambers in New City.
Michel presented Certificates of Appreciation to the public Safety Response Team - a Rockland delegation of police force, medical, construction and design industry personnel led by Michel - that embarked on the fact-finding mission in June and joined within the ongoing relief efforts and the rebuilding process of Haiti's Public Safety, Homeland Security, Correctional facility and Judicial Police networks.
John VespucciAs the former Director from the Rockland County Sheriff's Department Crime Awareness Program, Michel has organized seminars on public safety and professional security tactics for Homeland Security personnel from Haiti. The people in they included: Correction Officers Ruben E. Felix, Seth Felix, Rocky Jean-Louis and Jodi Michel, Parole Officer Mario Alexandre, Officer and Respiratory Therapist Jean-Herve Mondestin, and Pierre-Mary Martin, an architect.
Michel, accompanied by Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, also presented certificates to Dr. Neil Christopher, a Brooklyn physician and also to his spouse Lisa Christopher, for his or her humanitarian aid to Haiti, and to Haitian Ambassador Raymond Joseph, the Consul General of Haiti, Felix Augustin, the Haitian Secretary of state for Justice Advisor, Joseph Felix Badio, Delta Airlines Performance Leader Susie Pepe, Rockland County Sheriff James Kralik and Spring Valley Police Officer John Vespucci for ongoing support to Haiti.
John VespucciDistinguished Service Awards were presented to the Haitian Association of Pastors and Evangelical Churches of Rockland, the Rockland Correction Officers Benevolent Association and also the Rockland County Superior Officers Council for their support and dedication to the Haitian community here as well as in Haiti. Cornell presented a proclamation in honor of the Nyack Church of God and it is founder, the Rev. Pastor Jacqueline Kenol Joseph, and the Rev. Pastor Kenol Joseph for providing to the people of Lazile, Haiti a 50 bed hospital and organizing free clinic services and feeding the epidemic malnourished impoverished rural communities of Haiti pre and post the catastrophic January 12, 2010 Earthquake.
"It has been hard for Haitian Americans to determine our motherland on her behalf knees," said Michel. "These brave and providing people with, motivated by their love of Haiti, felt the necessity to give back and assist the displaced, injured and suffering people of Haiti. They all deserve this praise and recognition."