Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Robert MacMillan (second left) proudly displays his Distinguished Auxiliary Service award to (from left) Col. John Matear and Edward and Carla Seaga. They were attending the annual fund-raising dinner of the army's Eastern Jamaica Division Advisory Board , held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston last Wednesday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THINK OF an army and the images in your head might turn you off.
But then the Salvation Army (SA) is not your regular army. The Eastern Jamaica Division's Advisory Board hosted its
Fund-Raising Dinner and Silent Auction at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last Wednesday night. Proceeds from the evening's activities will go to the SA's
various charities.
With the help of a slide projector Col. John Matear, Territorial Commander (Caribbean) took the audience back to Grenada, The Bahamas and other places ravaged by the hurricanes which invaded our region last year. He proudly showed the SA's role
in helping families in these
countries (Jamaica included), to start rebuilding their lives.
SILENT AUCTION
At intervals in the programme, guests were invited to re-visit the silent auction and see how the bids were going. There was a variety of items to bid on; the donors too many to mention in this little article. Guests had the choice of everything from
electronic household appliances to weekend stays at some of Jamaica's finest hotels. Entertainment was provided by the Divisional Brass Ensemble.
Robert MacMillan, a member of the Eastern Jamaica Advisory Board and long-time supporter of the SA was awarded the Distinguished Auxiliary Service Cross for his philanthropic and community service specifically within the Greater Kingston Advisory Board. Clearly
surprised by the gesture, MacMillan, for once, was at a loss for words.
GUEST SPEAKER'S CONNECTION
Guest speaker Edward Seaga revealed that his connection to the SA went back further than anyone in the room as he was born in a SA hospital. He expressed his respect for the organisation and joked that though it was an army, the only weapons they carried were the basic necessities to give to the poor. He went on to ask the army's help with a hostel that was being set up in West Kingston.
The Salvation Army
movement started in 1865 in London, England and has spread world-wide. Among the
organisation's goals are the advancement of the Christian religion, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects
beneficial to society and mankind as a whole.
