One year to revitalize The Patterson School or the odds against it of ever opening again increase astronomically. If we fail in this objective, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. Now is not a time to lay blame, find fault or point fingers. Now is the time to shake hands, kiss babies, make speeches and write letters. Now is the time to partner with politicians, captains of industry and philanthropists around the country.

We face enormous challenges and only by presenting a united effort can we ever hope for success. This means that not just the Board of Trustees, but the friends and alumni of the school, must commit themselves to the school’s future. We must reach out, with passion of purpose, to any and all resources available to us. We must share our vision and hopes for our beloved school. We must beg, plead and grovel if necessary but most of all, we must pray.

We must pray with all our hearts and all our souls. We must pray until, like Christ, we drip with blood. We must ask our friends and neighbors to pray. We must reach out across the nation to our churches and congregations and seek their prayers. We must raise our voices to the heavens and proclaim “One year and no more!”

We must each decide if we will lead, follow or get out of the way. If we cannot lead, then we must step aside so that those who can may do so. If we cannot follow then we must relinquish our place in line to those who can. We must be an invincible army, determined, committed, resolved. This is not a game. It is real and if our heart is not into it then we must leave the battlefield or be a casualty of war.

We must prune the tree so that fresh, young and strong branches can grow and bear fruit. We must cut the dead wood away, painful though it may be. We must graft in stronger, more resilient buds, so that the tree can resist disease and weather future storms.

The Patterson School will rise from the ashes to be stronger and better than it has ever been before. Of this I can assure you because I have faith and faith can move mountains. I commit my last breath to this. I will not fail her. I will not let her die. Her grandest years are yet to be. Will you commit to this with me?