Ceremonial Speech

Rayan Mark, Simpson, was born in witbee, Jamaica on a cool Mays day in 1981 to Judean Dennis a market woman and Stafford Simpson a framer.

1. At an early age Mr. Simpson learned that life is not an easy road. Seeing his father working hard in the fields and his mother stacking up the load of goods to sell at the market he saw that life is hard and to make it you have to work to achieve your goals.

2. At age 8 Mr. Simpson migrated with his mother and two siblings Ricardo 10, and Shlyon 6 to America, Brooklyn, New York to be exact.

3. Adjusting to the American school system and the American way of life was not easy for him and his siblings but once again seeing his mother of 3 working different jobs and attending night school to pursue a degree in nursing showed them that they can achieve anything they want if they just put their mind to it.

But life in American comes with many challenges. And even though Mr. Simpson was good in school, the streets had a way of calling to him as he would walk to school. Seeing all the older guys with the cool cars and the flashing jewelry, he wanted a taste of it too.

4. Unable to graduate on time due to hang out with the boys instead of the classroom Mr. Simpson was offered the opportunity to get his G.E.D and leave school on time or even a little bit earlier.

5. Knowing that nothing is giving to you, at the age of 18 Mr. Simpson started out working for himself but seeing that that kind of work could only land you in two places, locked up or 6 feet under. He moved to Florida to pursue a career as an electrician assistant.

Life was good for him in Florida he was able to buy a house which he shared with his older brother Ricardo. And life was great until that very sad and unfaithful morning of September 11th 2001. And like most American's Mr. Simpson was at work and heard it on the radio and didn't pay too much attention to it because he had just visited his family in New York and flew back on the Sunday pass.

6. But as he went home he saw that it was very real and a calling came from inside of him and even though he was not born an American he wanted to give something back to the country he has grown to call home and has giving so much to him. So without a second thought he called up his local Army recruitment station and sign up for 4 years in the United States Army.

In 2004 Mr. Simpson Battalion was sent to Iraq for one year, in which he saw the many wonders of war that a young man should not see. Times was scary when all you wanted to do was take a shower instead of running for cover. But thanks to the grace of god they made it home safe without any casualties just a few wounded.

7. But not wanting to chance life twice he did not re-enlist back into the army instead he chose to pursue a career in the restaurant