Attired mainly in pink outfits, a large number of family and friends in Anguilla, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and mainland United States, have been in Anguilla not only for a reunion, but to launch a scholarship fund for some lucky person(s) wishing to study aviation.
The family members and friends held their first event on Saturday, July 30, when they attended a fund-raising dinner at the locally-owned and luxurious Sheriva Boutique Hotel. There, Ms. Marcia Hodge, a member of the family, told The Anguillian that the late Captain Kirby Hodge intended to establish some form of aviation undertaking but was unable to fulfil his desire as a result of his tragic death. Another brother, also a pilot, Captain Cardigan (Cardy), died from natural causes in 2011. A year later, in October, 2012, Kirby died when his plane went down while travelling to St. Thomas from St. Croix; and in December, 2012, yet another brother, Clarendon, passed away. A niece died in a car crash in St. Thomas a few months ago and there have been other family misfortunes of illness.
“Everybody knows that Cardy and Kirby were the pilots of the family, but we lost both of them,” Marcia said. “Kirby wanted to have something like a flight training school. Now, after his passing, we want to maintain the legacy of our two pilot brothers so we have decided to start a scholarship fund. Kirby was not just about flying. You had to be well-dressed; you had to be on time and respectful. He was jovial and wanted his passengers to be comfortable. The family is just trying to remember those who have died and wants to pray for those family members among us who are ill.
“What we are trying to do now is to raise US$50,000 each year to offer a scholarship – not only to aspiring Anguillian aviators, but in the Caribbean region as well. They would have to apply for the scholarship, write and defend an essay about the qualities of an aviator and why they think they should receive the scholarship. We will either have them send in their essays or come and present them before a panel of judges. The successful candidates would be informed about their acceptance via email, given time to accept the offer of the scholarship and then begin their training. That is what Kirby wanted to do.”
Asked about the raising of funds for the scholarship, Marcia said each family member and friend was sent an invitation to the dinner and paid for it online as his or her first contribution to the fund. “Our aim is to have an initial US$50,000 so that we can offer our first scholarship,” she explained. “We are hoping that between now and next year, when we will have our second annual event, that we will be able to offer our first scholarship.”
In addition to the launch of the scholarship fund, there have been a number of family reunion activities which included attending a church service and a traditional get-together at the late family’s home at Island Harbour.
