Thank you!

On behalf of the Afrikan-American Cultural Awareness Assn. - AACAA, I would like to personally express my gratitude and thanks to the Board of Advisors of AACAA, AACAA members, the members of the New Milford and surrounding communities, and the business community, who volunteered their time and made contributions with both human and financial resources to yet another successful Underground Railroad Walking Tour of New Milford.

 

It was an extreme pleasure to go out to the community this year soliciting support for the tour as each and every one I approached was very supportive and giving.

This years weather could not have cooperated any better for the tour, the sun shone brightly on us as we walked sometimes engrossed in discussion with someone we'd just met, or in silence thinking over what we just heard from our Narrator about the slaves running for safety as a result of the Fugitive Slave Act.  Many, many thanks to the owners of those historic homes who allowed us to venture onto their properties with 100 plus people in tow.

 

There are so many to thank for the success of this years tour, however, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to New Milford Police and the Water Witch Fire Police who provided the security as we walked along the streets to "freedom".

Thanks to St. John's Episcopal Church, the Rowing Center, Housatonic Friends Meeting House, The Mayors Office, NM 300 Commission, NM Trust for Historic Preservation, NM Historical Society, Gallant Family Foundation, Ellen C. Knowles Harcourt Foundation, Emerson Trust of Branson Corp, Roger Sherman Chapt of DAR, Webster Bank, Stop & Shop, Big Y, Perrone Realty,The Sounds of Afrika, OBEY Foundation, RichKraft, LLC, Lewis Photography and Family, Jo-Jo's Deli, Arkettetype, Really Good Stuff, New Milford Commission on the Arts, Christine Matta of Huntington Learning Center, Bank St. Coffee House, Candlewood Valley Country Club, The Spectrum, Housatonic Valley Publications, News Times and the OBEY Theatre Group. If I'd forgotten anyone please, please forgive me and know that I am very thankful to you for your support.

 

Finally I'd like to thank all those participants who traveled in from around the state of CT and those from NY, PA, NJ, RI, FL and MA who took the time out of their day to walk the path of our ancestors both the freedom seekers and the freedom supporters to you all -

I LOVE YOU.

Peace and blessings,

Deborah Calhoun, Executive Director

AACAA, Inc.