Autograph against all odds |
09 Dec 2013 13:46 #167448
by Chin
Autograph against all odds
Monday, December 9 2013
T&T Newsday
BRAVE GIRLS: Former South African President Nelson Mandela signs his autograph for Maria, Raquel, and Rachel Luthmedial during his visit in 2004....
The iconic Nelson Mandela’s death has touched the lives of all in Trinidad and Tobago, but for three sisters, it has brought back special memories from their personal encounter with him in 2004.
Flashback to April 30, 2004, when these very young girls at the time – Maria, Raquel and Rachel Lutchmedial braved the heavily guarded head table at which Mandela was having dinner, to ask for his autograph. They were attending the same dinner with their parents at a function held in Mandela’s honour by Concacaf at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya.
The events that unfolded left an indelible impression on these young minds that great leaders are not afraid of showing their humility. These girls upon approaching the table, were waved away by the then Prime Minister Patrick Manning who was sitting next to Mandela and escorted back to their table by the security.
Mandela, having observed this immediately requested that they be brought to him and the girls were taken to the head table by the Protocol Officer, Ken Emrith. Mandela spent ten minutes in conversation with them and autographed each of their programmes. Rachel Lutchmedial recalls having told him of doing a school project on him at the time.
Today, these girls are successful in their endeavours, and living lives that are befitting those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Mandela, even if it was for a fleeting moment.
rachel, maria, raquel
Maria Lutchmedial is a doctor on staff at the Mt Hope Hospital, Rachel is in the final year of her mechanical engineering degree at the University of Delaware and Raquel is in her first year pursuing dentistry at Mt Hope.
Mandela's autograph
Nine years later, this moment of meeting Mandela remains among their most cherished memories.
Monday, December 9 2013
T&T Newsday
BRAVE GIRLS: Former South African President Nelson Mandela signs his autograph for Maria, Raquel, and Rachel Luthmedial during his visit in 2004....
The iconic Nelson Mandela’s death has touched the lives of all in Trinidad and Tobago, but for three sisters, it has brought back special memories from their personal encounter with him in 2004.
Flashback to April 30, 2004, when these very young girls at the time – Maria, Raquel and Rachel Lutchmedial braved the heavily guarded head table at which Mandela was having dinner, to ask for his autograph. They were attending the same dinner with their parents at a function held in Mandela’s honour by Concacaf at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya.
The events that unfolded left an indelible impression on these young minds that great leaders are not afraid of showing their humility. These girls upon approaching the table, were waved away by the then Prime Minister Patrick Manning who was sitting next to Mandela and escorted back to their table by the security.
Mandela, having observed this immediately requested that they be brought to him and the girls were taken to the head table by the Protocol Officer, Ken Emrith. Mandela spent ten minutes in conversation with them and autographed each of their programmes. Rachel Lutchmedial recalls having told him of doing a school project on him at the time.
Today, these girls are successful in their endeavours, and living lives that are befitting those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Mandela, even if it was for a fleeting moment.
rachel, maria, raquel
Maria Lutchmedial is a doctor on staff at the Mt Hope Hospital, Rachel is in the final year of her mechanical engineering degree at the University of Delaware and Raquel is in her first year pursuing dentistry at Mt Hope.
Mandela's autograph
Nine years later, this moment of meeting Mandela remains among their most cherished memories.
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