Sebastian & Alejandro: Mayor and Chief of Police for the Day

Today, accompanied by Chief of Police Don De Lucca and City Manager Mr. Edward Rojas, John I. Smith K-8 School Principal Mr. Genaro Navarro and staff, and family Mejia friends, celebrating an honorary ceremony in which the key to the city was given to Sebastian Mejias and acknowledged as Honoree Mayor. At the same time, his younger brother Alejandro received honoree Chief of Police badge.

Below you will find today’s remarks.

Remarks from Mayor Luigi Boria

We are here today to acknowledge two young brothers, Sebastian and Alejandro Mejia who live in the City of Doral with their parents Maria Fernanda Gonzalez and Ivan Mejia and serve as an example of brave young hearts.

Those who know Sebastian and Alejandro can attest to the spirit and motivation they share with their classmates, friends, and family members. Their teachers know how dedicated they are to their school work despite having to miss school due to circumstances that are beyond their control.

Let me share with you who the Mejia Brothers are: 

Sebastian Mejia is 8 years old; he is the older of two brothers, in a family of four, including his Colombian born mother and father. 

Alejandro, the younger brother is 7 years old. 

They are in 3^rd and 2^nd grade, and love school.  Both brothers excel in academics and have received several awards in the past years for their outstanding dedication to education.

They have lived in the City of Doral for the past five years, and have been students at John I Smith K to 8 Center for the past year.  We thank those classmates, teachers, and school representatives that join us today as we recognize these two young boys.

Sebastian wants to graduate, go to Harvard and become President.  Although he feels pain, and has weakness, he insists in going to class.  Just a couple of weeks ago he made Honor Roll!

Alejandro likes to follow in his brothers footsteps and says he will be piloting Air Force One when Sebastian is President.  He has more energy and loves to play around.

Today, the City will recognize Sebastian and Alejandro for their courage and their daily motivation and inspiration to continue to strive at school.

Although we do not have the authority to run an election and nominate Sebastian as President of the United States or have Air Force One available for Alejandro, we would like to do the next best thing which is to acknowledge Sebastian Mejia as Honoree Mayor. In addition, I would like to let you know that I’m sending a letter to President Obama and the Conference of Mayors for them to know the story of these two young brave hearts.

Remarks from the City Manager – Honorary Ceremony

I would like to thank you all for joining in this ceremony to honor two very brave and courageous young men that reside in our community.

My name is Edward Rojas and I am proud to be the City Manager for the City of Doral.

Thomas Merton an acclaimed twenty century spiritual writer, poet, author and social activist. Once wrote about courage and said…“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” 

 

The two young men that we are honoring today personify exactly that…They may not understand exactly what it is that is happening to them or why…or even where it is all going….But they do understand what it is to live in the present and what it is to work through the daily challenges life has set in front of them.

They do know…what it is to face those challenges with: courage, faith, and hope.  The Courage…to triumph over their fears and make the most of what life has to offer. The Faith… that there is a higher cause in control of their destiny.  The Hope… that they will have the strength to live out their dreams.

Personally, I have been touched by this story…Every day that I come to work…I sit at my desk…turn and place my hand on the Bible…The same Bible that was used to swear me into the position of city manager…and I pray. Every day I seek to find the courage in myself not only to overcome the challenges of the day, but also to find the strength to… Be an example to my family…To fulfil my obligations to the people that I work with and work for…To find that faith to believe that there is a higher cause in control of my destiny…And to find the strength to live out my dreams. 

Personally I have learned from these two young men’s example…Having the opportunity to recognize them today has brought me closer to understanding what it is that I am looking for. To them I am truly thankful.