School Award Honours Eunice Veronica Sharpe
The Baha’is of Hamilton Parish established an annual award for a Francis Patton Primary student in honour of the late Eunice Veronica Sharpe.
A spokesperson said, “Along with its sister Baha’i communities throughout the world, and the national Bermudian Baha’i community, the Baha’is of Hamilton Parish are marking the 100th anniversary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, son of the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah, in a meaningful and significant way.
“To mark this centennial occasion, the Local Assembly of Hamilton Parish is establishing an annual award for Francis Patton School in honour of the late Mrs. Eunice Veronica Sharpe, who passed away August 2020.
“Mrs. Sharpe was born and bred in Hamilton Parish, her children attended the school and from day one she rendered countless services to the school in various capacities. Today, one of her daughters is a teacher at the school, Ms. Florence Sharpe.
“Among Mrs. Sharpe’s many contributions, she regularly read stories to the students; she was cheerful, courteous, articulate and friendly. The award goes to the student, chosen by the school, who displays and reflects those shining attributes of a beaming and always smiling countenance that emanated from Eunice Sharpe.
“The award is being established to mark the 100th anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He was born on the 23 May 1844, the same day the Baha’i Faith began in Shiraz, Iran [then Persia], the same day of the first e-message sent by Samuel Morse with the message: “What Hath God Wrought!”
“‘Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith. On the passing of His Father in 1892, he was appointed the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant and he became the person to whom all Baha’is turned for guidance, and the unfoldment of the teachings of the Faith.
“One of the highlights of the ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Baha was his travels to the west following his release from prison on the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1908. At the age of 68, he left the Holy Land for Europe and England, Canada, and to the United States, where he spent some 239 days traveling from coast to coast speaking in churches, mosques, synagogues, universities and all manner of humanitarian and social organizations.
“He passed away on 27 November 1921. This year then marks the centenary of his passing and is being observed by the Baha’i world community. Baha’is representing some 200 national communities have gathered in the Holy Land at the invitation of the Universal House of Justice to observe this milestone in our lifetime.
“In his Tablets of the Divine Plan for the spiritual transformation of our world citing countries, territories and islands, he stated this about Bermuda: “Likewise the cluster of the Islands of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean have importance.”
