If somebody killed your loved ones, what would you say to that person?
I can think of a lot of things, but not this: “I want Brett Gerald to know we are a loving family,” or, “We have forgiven you, brother,” or, “I don’t want you to think … I hate you. I don’t. I will keep you in my prayers.”
That’s what three family members of the victims who Brett Gerald killed while drunk driving last May had to say after Gerald was sentenced to seven 10-year prison terms earlier this month.
Gerald killed Brenda Gaines, 64; Denise Gaines, 33; Willie Gaines Jr., 15; Rogerick Johnson Jr., 13; Diamond Johnson, 12; Jyran Johnson, 6; and Angela Mathews Mosely, 36, on May 30, 2012.
I think these families deserve some kind words.
What a group of people. How can they forgive this man who has taken so much from them? Their reaction to this incident is truly remarkable and inspirational. These are the type of people we should all strive to be.
So drunk driving.
Don’t do it. It’s simple, right?
Obviously not. I’d be willing to assume everyone reading this column knows someone who regularly drives drunk.
Next time you see them
getting behind the wheel,
consider stopping them and think of 15-year-old Willie who will never turn 16.
Or maybe it’s you.
You’ve been at the bar for a few hours. Threw back a few of Fred’s free drinks, but you only had four Red Bull vodkas and it’s been, like, three hours. You’re pretty good to drive. At least you think you are.
Before you get in the car, think about 12-year-old Diamond, and how she’ll never get her driver’s license.
Don’t we have enough problems in this country with cancer and other diseases and real accidents to not have to worry about such preventable deaths?
I mean dear God, people, what’s wrong with us?
We’ll go downtown and spend $45 on three drinks and a shot at City Bar, but we won’t spend another $20 to take a cab and get home without risking someone else’s life?
I want to challenge you all to do something.
Make a pledge to not drink and drive from this day forward. I don’t care how you do it.
Pledge to yourself. Put it on Facebook. Tweet about it. Tell your friends and ask them to keep you responsible.
You can even go to madd.org (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and take a pledge through their site.
I’m making the pledge right now in ink.
I don’t want to be the cause of some other 6-year-old’s death, like Jyran, who will never get a chance to throw a football or baseball all the way across his front yard.
Speaking to the victims’ families after his sentencing, Gerald said, “I trust in God that He will heal your pain because I know I cannot.”
Well Gerald, the Gaines, Johnson and Mosely families have already proven they are extraordinary people.
Pledge to never be the reason another family has to prove it, too.
John Parker Ford is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Alexandria.