Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, (right) chief of staff Jamaica Defence Force, chats with (from left) Anthony Bedward, president of the Jamaica Ex-soldiers Association of South Florida (JESA), Leslie Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Roper, commanding officer of JDF Air Wing, after the 43rd anniversary church service of JDF Air Wing, at the Garrison Church of the Ascension, Up Park Camp, on Sunday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THEY MAY live in the United States, but members of the Jamaica Ex-soldiers of South Florida organisation, have never forgotten their roots.
Yesterday, 13 of the former Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers ended a two-day charity drive by donating school supplies to the Amy Bailey Basic School at South Camp Road in Kingston.
Sharon Terrelonge, a member of the group, said that the school was presented with books, crayons and a compact disc player.
The previous day, they visited the Curphey Home for retired soldiers in Mandeville, Man-chester. The home, which has 13 residents, received hurricane supplies, clothing, toiletries and a DVD player.
Ms. Terrelonge, who served the JDF for 20 years, was a corporal when she left the military for the United States in 1996. She said that the ex-soldiers hope to make their charity drive annual.
The Jamaica Ex-Soldiers of South Florida was founded by Thomas Williams in 1995. Mr. Thomas, who was among the group that visited, was a 19-year veteran of the JDF.
During their visit, the former servicemen attended a church service at Garrison Church, Up Park Camp on Sunday and met with Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, the JDF chief of staff.
They are scheduled to leave for Florida today.
