PAGE 10

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013

CONT. FROM PAGE 1

MARTIN
the ceremonies, and the family was called to the floor to be recognized. Martin suffered a premature death on Christmas day 2011 after battling rhabdomyosarcoma for 17 months. The medical condition was diagnosed just after his sixteenth birthday. Rhabdomyosarcoma, for Martin, consisted of having cancer in the soft tissue in his upper neck and lower brain. Martin underwent radiation and chemotherapy while staying at the St. Jude Ronald McDonald House and the Grizzly House of the greater Memphis,TN area. Prior to his condition, when he entered Baldwyns sixth grade class, he became a Baldwyn Bearcat. This would have made him a member of the Class of 2013. As a freshman, he learned the true meaning of being a Bearcat when he joined the BHS boys basketball team. Through his treatments he continued to support the Bearcats by listening to the ball games on the radio and attending a few select home games. The BHS boys basketball team made him an honorary member of the team as they continued over the next two years to claim multiple tournament titles and the 2013 State Championship Title. Martin is the son of Tashawanda Lightning who is engaged to Carl Edwards. Martin also has a brother, Joshua. Thank you so much for making us feel included in this event. The students, faculty, administration and Coach Jason McKay have made us feel Marcus warmth once again, Lightning said.
CONT. FROM PAGE 1

THE BALDWYN NEWS

POTENTIAL
CONT. FROM PAGE 1

MARTIN
Schools newspaper. She was selected as Poetry Slam Contest Winner, the recipient of the Highest Average for Accelerated English III Award, a beauty in the THS Parade of Beauties and THS Best Dressed. Alexandra represented THS at Scholars Bowl District and State Competition and she participated in Wave Connection, Concert Choir, and Varsity Choir. She has also contributed to the Academic Competition Team. Alexandra is a member of First Baptist Church of Baldwyn and has participated with the Tupelo's Harrisburg Baptist Youth Group. She has volunteered at AvonLea Assisted Living and Retirement Community, North Mississippi Medical Center, Calvary Fall Festival and Helping Hands. Also, Alexandra has helped with Salvation Armys Toy Drive and Meals on Wheels and has mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters.* It was an honor to graduate with my peers," Alexander said. "I feel so blessed to have parents who have loved and supported me in everything that I do. My teachers have greatly influenced my life and given me an academic foundation in which I know I can build upon and succeed in my goals for the future. My greatest thank you goes to God. Without Him, I couldnt have achieved any of this. I hope that my life will always reflect Him in everything I do, she said. Alexandra chose this quote by William Edward Burghardt DuBois, to represent her view of life: The most important thing to remember is this: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become. Editors Note: Partial Content from THS Hall of Fame 2013 booklet
CONT. FROM PAGE 1

HERO
as a result of that blast. It landed 20 to 30 feet away from where I was laying in a fox hole," he said. "The shoulders of my dead comrade was lying in pieces on top of my body. During the war, the soldiers would use their raincoats to cover those they assumed to be dead. I laid there unconscious and I was covered for dead for most of the afternoon. When I finally woke up, I started moving around and someone saw me and came to take me to the hospital. I was 19 at the time and I have not been able to hear since then." His eardrums were blown out, but when he recovered from the concussion, he went to work helping with the injured. A third time in less than a year, Hopkins was wounded in action on November 15,1944 when he was hit with shrapnel and paralyzed on the right side from the waist down. "I had to lie there with the shrapnel inside my leg for a long time," Hopkins said. "The doctors wanted my leg to heal on its on and didn't want to damage it by pulling out the shrapnel. I was paralyzed the whole time. However, when they removed the shrapnel I slowly began to walk again." He recovered and was discharged from the hospital on December 26, 1944.The 79th Infantry had captured 35,466 prisoners, and they made 56 moves on the European continent for 1,956 miles. For his efforts and sacrifices, Hopkins was awarded three Purple Hearts upon his discharge from the army. He also earned the Presidential Unit Badge, WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Hopkins said one of the happiest days of his life was when he heard the war was over. He returned home for a year and decided to re-inlist. He stayed in the service for two more years but decided to move back to Baldwyn with his wife and start something new. "Some of my fondest memories are those of living in Baldwyn with my wife of 65 years, Betty," he said. Hopkins also operated several businesses in Baldwyn over the years. Since their retirement, the Hopkins have enjoyed traveling in their motor home, meeting many new friends and joining up with fellow soldiers from wartime. "I still have nightmares," Hopkins said. "I watched so many people and friends die. That is something you will never forget, but a man can make of his life what he chooses." On this Memorial Day, as freedom is celebrated, it is important to keep in mind those who fought for that freedom, like our very own hometown hero, Mr. Hopkins.

have a disability at all, but rather an ability to make an unfortunate circumstance into something inspirational. Patrick Henrys musical talents began at the age of nine months. Home videos on his website show him sitting in a chair playing tunes such as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on the piano. His father was blown away by Patricks development of these talents at such a young age. I understood we would not be playing baseball together, he said. But music we would be able to make music together. Patrick Henry was also a very talented singer and started performing in front of crowds in grade school. He played the trumpet in his high school, but he could not march so he sat on the sidelines. As Patrick Henry grew so did his talent. Although he had received a lot of attention and became an inspirational figure in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, his story caught national attention when he joined the University of Louisville Marching Band in 2006. I started playing the trumpet in elementary school and continued to play it throughout high school, Patrick Henry said. I wanted to play the drums at first, but I couldnt because of my arms. I decided to play the trumpet because of my parents. When I first went to The University of Louisville I had no intention of playing in the marching band. I just wanted to be in the Pep band. Patrick Henry and his father, Patrick John, met with the marching band director, Dr. Greg Byrne, to discuss Patrick Henry playing in the pep band. Dr. Byrne told them that it was a requirement for him to play in the marching band in order to play in the pep band. At first me and my father were like yea right, me marching in the band? That would never happen, Patrick Henry said. But Dr. Byrne believed in me so we signed up for Marching Band camp. However, both Patrick Henry and his dad had their doubts and planned to write a letter asking to get out of the marching band before camp. Camp was 10 days away and my dad procrastinated and never wrote the letter, said Patrick Henry. So, we went to band camp. The night when we got back home, I had gained a lot of attention. Already the telephone was ringing, I had several emails, all from strangers telling me they had heard my story and heard that I was going to be in the marching band. They all told me how proud and inspired they were. From then on me and my dad decided that we would make this marching band thing happen. His dad, Patrick John, learned all the steps and pushed his son in the correct formations of the 200+ member band. It was kind of easier that way, Patrick John said. We had a split task. I learned the steps and he learned the music. Patrick Henry admitted that at first it was a little scary because he could not grip the side of his chair with a trumpet in his hand. It was a lot to get used to at first, he said. My chair is great for rolling on the asphalt but when you get on grass and

turn, the forward wheels sometimes dig into the grass. We actually had a friend adjust my wheels with radio flyer turf tires so we could lean the chair back. It was wonderful after that. Not only did Patrick Henry play five seasons in the marching band and pep band at Louisville, but he also graduated from the University of Louisville, Magna Cum Laude, where he majored in Spanish. In 1999, the Patrick John quit his job as a systems analyst and started working the graveyard shift at UPS so that he could spend his daytime hours at his sons side sitting in college classes with him and attending every band practice. To this day, Hughes dad continues to be his right-hand man. Hes my hero What he goes through, its taught me that I dont really have any complaints, Hughes father said. I guess a father couldnt ask for more than the relationship I have with Patrick. When asked to explain a typical work day for his dad, Patrick Henry replied, Bless him. He goes to work at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and gets in about 6 a.m. He sleeps until 11 a.m. and is up in time to take me to school and band practice. A virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick Henry has won or finished very high in numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. He has been featured on ESPN, ABC-TV, Oprah, CBS-TV, The Ellen Show, Extreme Make Over Home

Edition, FOX-TV, CSTV, NBC-TV, The Today Show, Million Dollar Round Table, The Grand Ole Opry, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Star Magazine, and many, many others. Patrick Henry has made appearances from California to New York, and Chicago to Texas and Miami, and countless points in between, even performing in Asia, Canada, South America and Europe. Today he is a world-renown speaker and musican. I never imagined that my story would be so big and touch so many people, he said. I am just an ordinary guy who is blessed to be able to wake up each morning. Life is truly a blessing. With a little hard work you can do anything you put your mind to. The family was able to meet their film counterparts while the movie was being filmed in Baldwyn. Having met the people who are playing my wife, Henry and myself has been an incredible experience, Patrick John said. The movie does not have a release date yet but they do have a Facebook page called I Am Potential that features a variety of pictures and behind the scenes videos of the film. One can also visit Patricks Henrys Website at www.patrickhenryhughes.co m

Watching this take place is surreal, it is like an out of body experience, said Patricia Hughes. The story is familiar but its kind of like its not really you. Patrick Henry said he feels humbled to be able to experience the making of this movie. It is an honor to be here on set and an amazing experience seeing our story being told, he said. I thank all of the cast and extend a big thank you to your hometown. After seeing the movie I Am Potential, I hope, first and foremost, that people come away with the idea that, despite lifes challenges or the hurdles that might seem a little too difficult, life is truly a beautiful thing. The only thing we are guaranteed in life is the little 24 hour space that makes up today so enjoy every moment and live that little 24 hour space, as I like to put it, as the last day of summer vacation. Weather it be on a field playing the Louisville fight song or on a piano playing Clair de Lune, in a sense the melody is the same. Patrick Henry Hughes plays that we might hear the music of opportunity and the sound of potential.

Mortgage Loans
Made Fast & Easy!
MICHELLE GREER MORTGAGE LENDING OFFICER

BALDWYN | BOONEVILLE | MANTACHIE | MARIETTA MOOREVILLE www.fmbms.com

R&R