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Tribute to a fallen Hero
Dear Editor,
My name is Boaz Wade ak Boards, ex-Constable number 8102 of the prestigious ancient President’s Guard. The right Reverend Pastor Chase sympathizes, mourners, family and friends.
On behalf of the founding members of the Presidents Guard, permit me to extend heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Greene-Hope and family knowing that they have to weather the storm on the passing of their loved one, Compton Hope; while the recurring sentence that Baksi is dead has now become an overworked cliché that has outlived its usefulness.
The facial expression I see on everyone reminds me of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that “it is not alone this mourning suit but I have that within.”
We are all present here and in the same boat because Mr. Hope’s life has impacted with a great degree of inequality, on each and every one of us in one way or the other.
We can imagine the shock that hit the family at his passing. For some of us, it is merely a feeling of undying love and affection, while to others he has just completed a closure of his atonement.
Karl Marx said, “Men make their own history but not as just as they please but under conditions directly found given and transmitted from the past.” The greater part of Mr. Hope’s calling was focused around two facets (a) militarism and (b) reading.
He centered all his efforts preparing his lesson plan to get over in the simplest manner whatever programmes what must be taught what should be taught and what could be taught. I could remember him teaching the lesson aiming off for wind and sight setting of the SLR. Amongst the five sergeants sent on a cadre in the GDF, he only understood the ramifications of how to aim at the target when one encounters a mild, fresh or strong wind blowing.
He read wisely, widely and wildly; for him anything legible is literature and he loved reading as such; the merger made him very talented exercising the maxim of Francis Bacon that reading maketh a full man, conference maketh a ready man and writing maketh an exact man.
These allowed him to peruse any topic with confidence, stock knowledge and alacrity.
He was never conniving avaricious, deceitful nor slanderous. I would pause a while to find something to anoint a character assassination, but l apologize I cannot.
On the contrary, Mr. Hope was a man of uprightness, probity, fortitude, decency, reason understanding and rectitude. To his family of orientation and procreation my deepest condolences.
Through introspection, I can understand the plight of Gavin and his sister Allison. Please let me welcome you to the club of fatherless children — you are not without company. I must reassure but let me urge you not to cower like the Epicureans drowning your sorrows in wine and song but stand aloof like the Stoics and face the music and dance.
As for me, Baksi was my mentor, my educator, my reference category real or imagined; his understanding and breaching of many code of ethics on the Guard was virtually responsible for my tertiary education.
He was like a father applying the rudiments of punishment dissipating with the complaint before it reaches the mother where more severe punishment could be got.
Mister Hope will be remembered as being The Last of the Mohicans. There were but five, Welch, Bentick, Waterton, Hinds and Hope. Now there is none.
Travel well my brother; it was a pleasure to have served under your watch and stewardship as a constable for ten long years and many friends who have served for longer.
I know at some times we did not reach all your requirements but you understood. We salute you and in one unison, we shall raise our voices and shout aloud, ‘indeed this was a man’!
Ex const. 8102 Wade aka (PAPA B) or Boards.
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