Remembering Haitian freedom, earthquake

DR. GERALD VALME, from left, front row, Marie Marthe Saint Cyr, Boseke Akamisbkor, Ginette Rows, David Duchatellier, Carrié Solages, Elsie Saint, Louis Accilien, Gina Faustin, Frantz Dorsainvil and Dr. Anthony Buton, back row, of the H.E.A.R.T 9/11 organization.

Mikaelle Solages/Herald

HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS attended a commemoration event in Mineola last week, remembering Haiti’s 2010 earthquake and independence from France.

Mikaelle Solages/Herald

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In an effort to honor victims of 2010 Haitian earthquake and celebrate the 208th anniversary of Haitian independence, Nassau County officials and members of Haitian-Americans United for Progress and Kompa Guide came together for a commemoration event on Jan. 11 in the county’s ceremonial chamber in Mineola.

The Haitian Revolution took place from 1791 to 1804 — a period of conflict between local rebels and French colonials in Saint-Domingue — and ended with the abolishment of slavery and the formation of the Haitian republic. The American and Haitian revolutions were the only two successful attempts by American states to achieve permanent independence from a European colonial power prior to the 19th century.

On Jan. 12, 2010, an estimated 3 million people were affected by an earthquake that struck Haiti, and according to the Haitian government, more than 300,000 people died due to the disaster.

During the county event last week, several local people were honored, including Elmont resident David Duchatellier, founder of Elmont’s Haiti Relief Effort. Duchatellier immigrated to the U.S. in 1975, and he and his family have been living in Elmont since 1999. In addition to his work with Haiti Relief Effort, his wife, Marie Josee Charles; daughters Christine, 19, Julissa, 19, and Chelsie Katryna, 14; and his mother, Mariella Casseus, 75, are also integral components of the effort, having each traveled to Haiti several times to deliver needed materials.

Duchatellier said that he plans to remain active with the relief effort for several years to come, as long as he continues to receive support from residents of New York and surrounding states.

Other honorees last week included Marie Marthe Saint Cyr, Ginette Rows and Frantz Dorsainvil. Attendees included HEART 9/11, the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and Mission Restore, Nassau University Medical Center Dr. Anthony Buton and staff, Dr. Alix Dufresne, Martine Dufresne, Dr. Gerald Valme, Dr. Bosede Akamiokhor, Haitian-Americans United for Progress Inc. Executive Director Elsie Accilien, Kompa Guide CEO Gina Faustin, and HAUP Haiti Consul General Felix Augustin.

Attendees sang the Haitian and American national anthems, and Port-au-Prince native Michèle Voltaire Marcelin per-formed “Ayiti.”