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GLENN “KWABENA” DAVIS P. O. Box 304274 St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00803-4274 340-998-8952 gdkwabena@gmail.com May 13, 2025 Honorable Avery L. Lewis, Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs, and Consumer Protection 36th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands Capitol Building, Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, V.I. 00802 Dear Senator Lewis: Thank you for the invitation to address this august committee supporting the resolution proposed by Senator Angel Bolques to honor and commend James Sasso for his distinguished service in the mortuary industry. Regrettably, I was unable to meet your response deadline and trust that I will still be allowed to present my testimony below, in-person, on May 20, 2025. Cordially yours. Glenn Davis TESTIMONY MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THIS AUGUST PANEL AND OTHERS OF THE 36TH LEGISLATURE, HONOREE JAMES SASSO AND HIS LOVED ONES, LADIES AND GENTEMEN PRESENT AND WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, I BID YOU GREETINGS AND OFFER MY GRATITUDE FOR INVITING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS PROPITIOUS OCASSION. I AM GLENN DAVIS ALSO KNOWN AS KWABENA. BY ANY OF THE THREE NAMES I AM ADDRESSED, IT IS DUE TO MY LIFE OF SERVICE AND CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR, JUVENILE JUSTICE SPECIALIST, CALYPSONIAN, STORYTELLER, CHOREOGRAPHER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER TO MAGAZINES LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, ANTHOLOGIST, CHOREOGRAPHER, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, COMPOSER, AMATEUR HISTORIAN AND RESEARCHER, PLAYWRIGHT, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF THE VOICES OF LOVE COMMUNITY CHOIR, CO-FOUNDER OF THE EMANCIPATION GARDEN CHRISTMAS CARD AND … THE RESOLUTION BY SENATOR ANGEL BOLQUES TO RECOGNIZE THE ALMOST 18 YEARS OF JAMES SASSO IN THE FUNERARY INDUSTRY, IS TRULY NOTEWORTHY. MR. SASSO OF TURNBULL FUNERAL HOME RENOWN HAS EARNED THIS AWARD. HE DESERVES THIS DISTINCTION. WHAT HE MAY HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY, HE HAS TAKEN TO A HIGHER LEVEL. THE POMP AND COMPASSION MR. SASSO BRINGS TO THE INDUSTRY ENGENDERS AND ADDS GREATLY TO THE COMFORT AND EMOTIONAL EASE OF THE BEREAVED. MR. SASSO AND I GO BACK FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS WHEN VOICES OF LOVE HELD REHEARSALS AT HIM FAMILY’S HOME. WE COULD NOT GET HIM TO JOIN THE GROUP. BE THAT AS IT MAY, FOR OVER 45 YEARS, I HAVE COLLECTED PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF VIRGIN ISLANDS RELATED BOOKS, MAGAZINES, CELEBRATION MATERIALS, LEAFLETS AND OF COURSE, FUNERAL BOOKLETS AND PLACED IN THE PETER VON SCHOLTEN COLLECTION AND OTHER REPOSITORIES IN THE TERRITORY. WHILE I THANK WALKER AND HOLLAND AT HURLEY FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, SASSO’S CONSISTENT COLLECTION FOR ME AT EACH OF THEIR FUNERALS IS WORTHY OF MENTION. HIS EFFORT IN THIS REGARD IS NOT A FAVOR FOR HIM, HE FEELS DUTY BOUND TO HELP AUGMENT, ADVANCE AND PRESERVE THE LITERARY PATRIMONY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. THE DEPTH OF HIS COMMITMENT TO THIS PROCESS IS SELF-EVIDENT. EVEN WHEN HE HAS TO BE AWAY, HE ASSIGNS SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE THE COLLECTIONS CONTINUE. WHILE THERE ARE THOSE WHO USE THE WORDS CULTURE AND HISTORY TO THE POINT OF ANNOYANCE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT USE THEIR POWER OR RESOURCES TO PROVE THEIR COMMENTS BY ACTION, HE DOES THIS WITHOUT SEEKING A BENEFIT. MEFMBERS OF THIS AUGUST PANEL AND THE ENTIRE BODY, THERE IS NO EQUIVOCATION, THERE IS NO TREPIDATION AS I ASK YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT RESERVATION. HE DESERVES AND HAS EARNED THIS LEGISLATION OF HONOR AND COMMENDATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME