Household, pals, supporters, and associates on Sunday, Jan. 12, celebrated the ninety fifth birthday of an excellent son of the Grenadian soil, Martin Danny Clement, MBE (Member of the British Empire), throughout a gala ceremony at St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus on Hempstead Avenue in Lynbrook, Lengthy Is.
The celebratory occasion additionally marked the 66th marriage ceremony anniversary of Clement and his spouse, Margaret. The Clements at the moment reside in Roosevelt, within the City of Hempstead, Nassau County, Lengthy Is.
Martin Clement, who hails from Petite Martinique, the smaller of Grenada’s two sister islands—the opposite is Carriacou—has had a distinguished profession as a instructor at Petite Martinique Roman Catholic Faculty, a principal at L’Esterre Rosary Faculty, and a tutor on the Grenada Lecturers’ School.
After the USA invaded Grenada in 1983, Clement served because the district officer for Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Prime Minister Sir Nicholas Brathwaite’s administration.
Clement, the creator of “On Land and Sea: A Lifetime of Service, Martin D. Clement, MBE, An Autobiography,” attended Cambridge College in the UK and the College of the West Indies.
“Thanks all for becoming a member of us immediately as we rejoice a very exceptional milestone – our father’s ninety fifth birthday, 95 years of affection, knowledge, and recollections.” Clement’s fifth of 12 youngsters and fourth son, Dr. Paul Clement, a professor of economics on the Vogue Institute of Expertise (FIT), State College of New York (SUNY), who served as Grasp of Ceremonies, informed celebrants.
“Tonight, we honor not only a lengthy life however a life lived with goal, kindness, and coronary heart,” he added. Tonight, we additionally honor our mom, Maylive Margaret, the true pressure alongside Dad’s 95 years — the mom who made positive all of us sat across the desk to do our schoolwork. She deserves an honorary doctorate for ensuring our schooling comes first.
“Dad, you’re the cornerstone of our household, the embodiment of affection and energy,” Dr. Clement continued. “You’ve taught me, and all of us, a lot — not simply by your phrases, however by your actions.
“From the very starting, you’ve proven us what it means to like deeply and stay with honesty and integrity,” he stated. “I do know you and mother have to be happy with the success of each certainly one of your youngsters. Their efforts have considerably elevated Grenada’s standing throughout numerous sectors, together with revolutionizing transportation in Grenada by introducing highspeed ferry service, reshaping mobility, and the every day lifetime of the individuals of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique.”
Dr. Clement stated his father’s knowledge and intelligence proceed to encourage all his youngsters.
“Individuals ask, ‘The place did your youngsters get their enterprise sense from?’ What they have no idea is that we realized from you and Mother’s on a regular basis family economics,” he stated. “The division of labor was clear: some baked bread, others milked goats, fed chickens, or planted lettuce, whereas some washed pig pens.
“However let’s not neglect Dad’s humorousness,” Dr. Clement added. “Even at 95, he nonetheless is aware of deliver laughter into any room. His intelligent jokes preserve us smiling, reminding us of the enjoyment in life’s easy moments.
“However, maybe, what we admire most about you, Dad, is your resilience,” he continued. “You’ve confronted life’s ups and downs with grace and energy. You’ve proven us overcome obstacles, preserve going even when instances are powerful, and stay hopeful and optimistic it doesn’t matter what.”
Dr. Clement stated that when Carriacou and Petite Martinique wanted his father essentially the most, he “stepped up and delivered,” vividly remembering when he accompanied his dad to Prime Minister Braithwaite’s home shortly after the US invasion of Grenada, “the place you accepted the function of district officer for Carriacou and Petite Martinique and needed to depart the very subsequent day.
“As an adolescent, I needed to connect a white flag to the automotive antenna and drive you over the Grand Etang Hills to Pearls Airport, Grenada’s solely airport on the time,” recalled Dr. Clement, stating that, since preventing was nonetheless ongoing within the space, “the white flag, a universally acknowledged image of truce and a request for a ceasefire, supplied us with safety beneath the foundations of conflict outlined by the Geneva Conference.
“At the moment, we rejoice you, Dad – not only for reaching this unbelievable milestone however for the legacy of affection, knowledge, and pleasure you’ve constructed over time,” Dr. Clement added. “You’ve touched so many lives, everybody right here tonight, and we’re all higher off realizing you. You’re the finest dad anybody may ever ask for.
“We love you deeply and rejoice you with all our hearts,” he continued. “Joyful ninety fifth birthday, dad!”
Clement’s second son, Andrew Clement, a custodian engineer, stated tersely: “We’re right here to rejoice the birthday of a particular individual at 95 years outdated.
“He’s lived a full life,” he stated. “He all the time labored arduous. Moreover instructing jobs, he all the time had facet jobs.
“He instilled in us arduous work and schooling,” Andrew Clement added. “Our household is completely satisfied to have you ever as our dad.”
Member of the family Matilda Bethel, affectionately known as “Auntie Mattie,” stated she was gratified to rejoice with Clement.
“The perfect household I ever met was my sister and her husband,” she stated. “They made you content whenever you noticed them.
“Might the nice Lord bless you!” added “Auntie Mattie,” turning to Clement. “We need to see you reside to 105.”
One other member of the family, Natasha Sandy, a medical physician, stated she additionally traveled from Maryland and was very completely satisfied to be a part of the celebration.
“I really feel related to you,” she stated. “It’s stunning to see so lots of you. I’m deeply grateful to every of you for making this potential.”
Anthony Parke, a former secondary faculty principal in Grenada, stated Clement taught him “ learn.”
“He was the sort of one who needed you to do higher,” he stated. “I would like him to know not simply what he did for me however for all who handed by the Grenada Lecturers’ School.
“God’s blessings, Mr. Clement,” he added. “I do know you like cricket. I would like you to proceed batting and, in 5 years, I hope you’re round for a well-deserved century.”
Clement stated he was “deeply grateful to every of you for making this second potential – household, pals and family members alike.
“It’s each a pleasure and an honor to succeed in 95 years,” he stated. “As I mirror on these 95 years, I really feel really blessed to have a life stuffed with cherished recollections formed by the unbelievable individuals who have been a part of my journey.
“To my household, you might be my best pleasure. Thanks in your unwavering love, endurance, and the numerous methods you’ve supported me over time,” he added. “I’m profoundly grateful to have lived a life surrounded by such boundless love and kindness.”
Clement stated he was “deeply grateful” to his beloved spouse, “who has stood by my facet for 66 fantastic years of marriage.
“Her prayers, calmness, endurance, contentment, and tireless efforts have been a supply of energy and inspiration,” he stated. “At instances, I believed I had married a nun (laughter). However, on a critical notice, I typically prayed to God for a blessed companion, and He answered my prayers.”
Moreover all his spouse’s nice qualities, Clement stated, “her devotion to my pricey mom was excellent.
“She took care of my mom as if she was her personal mom – with love, care, endurance, devotion – and I adored her for that,” he stated. “Subsequently, I hope that my youngsters will be taught from her instance.
“To my beloved in-laws, you have got all helped me attain this age of 95. Your assist in numerous methods, your togetherness, your helpfulness, your recommendation, your spirituality, your joyfulness, and, title it, we had been blessed to have you ever,” Clement added.
“It feels really heartwarming to be surrounded by a lot love tonight,” he continued, stating that he “wouldn’t really feel full” if he didn’t take a second to thank the individuals who have supported him alongside his journey to succeed in 95.
Clement stated that although he was born in Petite Martinique, his life took him to Carriacou and Grenada, the place neighbors warmly welcomed his household.
“All of them made us really feel at residence, and we loved many years of dwelling in concord and not using a single battle or disagreement,” he stated. “These variety and beneficiant individuals performed a big function in serving to me attain this historic milestone of 95 years.”
Clement additionally acknowledged the nice and cozy welcome he obtained from neighbors and pals on migrating to the USA.
“Really, I’ve lived a wealthy and fulfilling life, surrounded by unbelievable family and friends,” he stated. To my youngsters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I provide my heartfelt thanks and want you the perfect of well being and happiness.
“At all times cherish the values of honesty, respect, humility, integrity, kindness, resilience, sturdy character and generosity,” Clement added. “Bear in mind, challenges and setbacks are a pure a part of life, however the way you reply to them shapes your progress and defines your journey.”
