ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606180004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: LETTERS
Since the tragic loss of our mother, Angie Acebal-Knowles, there has been overwhelming kindness and support for us from this community.
The simple gestures of kindness are too numerable to list. Our family is greatly appreciative of every thought, prayer and deed that has been offered to help us through this trying time.
We have not had the opportunity to express our gratitude to each individual who has been there for us. We hope you will accept this letter as a token of our appreciation. We wanted to let you each know that there were no acts of kindness that went unnoticed, no matter how great or small.
We are each trying to continue on in our daily lives to the best of our ability. The support you have each given us on a continuing basis has helped us tremendously to begin the healing process. We have come to need each of you to rebuild our faith and our future.
We hope you will stay by us in the days and years to come. We cannot imagine traveling the new road our lives have taken without your support.
We would like to thank each of you who have contributed to our trust fund established at First National Bank of Christiansburg. The consistent monthly pledges have helped us tremendously to make it through this time. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your generosity and commitment to our future through your donations.
We, as a family, hope that you will look at your own family and realize how precious life is. Please use our loss to strengthen the bonds between yourself and those you love.
As you have demonstrated these past few months, the positive impact of a united, loving community is truly a treasure. We are so fortunate to live in a town of people who exemplify the very best qualities of caring human beings.
We are forever grateful to each and every one of you for caring enough to make such a difference in our lives.
John-Michael, Vanessa, Dylan and Ryan Knowles
Christiansburg
March for Jesus demonstrated faith
There were African faces, Oriental faces, and all kinds of of faces. Everyone was there to joyfully speak, sing, shout and display on placards the name of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was the March for Jesus 1996 in Christiansburg on May 25.
Fay and Will Hill of Pulaski, who spend their winters in Florida, had participated in the March for Jesus three times. The first was in Christchurch, New Zealand, the second in London and the third in Pulaski last year.
Bill Ley was there with his wife, Jan, and their six children. He works in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Bill and Jan are on the organizing committee for the march, and feel privileged to be associated with it.
Bill says Jesus has given them this fine family and given them grace to maintain it. "We're just out here, rain or shine, to give testimony to the community that He is everything to us. He's first priority in our lives."
Allen Tuggle, a 21-year-old college student, says he would have given up a long time ago if he hadn't found something greater to live for. His message for young people: "If God can do it for me, he can do it for you." He is spending his summer working part time on three jobs and staying active in his local church, where among other things, he is part of the clown ministry.
Camilo Bearman is an architecture student at Virginia Tech. His wife, Lisa, recently graduated from Radford University. They were glad for the opportunity to meet some people from other churches. "I saw that Jesus was the only one who was faithful and true. Here there are people from all walks of life, and parts of the New River Valley, all kinds of financial situations, families, college students - all know that Jesus will never leave or forsake them."
Bob Anderson [of Straight Street], co-organizer of the March for Jesus, and an organizational committee including four pastors happily saw their work bear fruit as an estimated 150-200 marchers took part. "I believe this is the foundation for the future marches, and that next year the numbers will triple, or quadruple. This was the best yet."
Raylyn Terrell
Blacksburg
Sports facilities are being shared
The Blacksburg High School athletic department would like to thank Virginia Tech for allowing the high school to host the Group AA Region IV boys' tennis championship there and for the use of the Tech cross-country course this year.
A recent letter to the editor in the Current said Tech charged the high school for the use of its athletic facilities. Just prior to the publication of that letter, Tech had agreed to allow its facilities to be used by the high school at no cost to host the 1996 Blue Ridge District and Region III cross-country championships. In 1997, BHS will be hosting the AA state boys' tennis championships with the help and cooperation of Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg Department of Parks and Recreation.
The high school's athletic facilities continue to be available to Virginia Tech as needed. The high school's athletic department hopes to continue its good working relationship with the Tech athletic department.
Warren Murphy
Blacksburg High School athletic director
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