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• Email: The Author Viktoriia Krechkovska
• Viktoriia Krechkovska’s Website: The Author Viktoriia Krechkovska
• Social Tag: @Viktoriia Krechkovska

Interview with 14 Year old Author, Writer and literary Phenom, Viktoriia Krechkovska

Interview Transcripts

Angela Barrett – “Hey, Victoria. How are you today?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Hi. Good. How are you?

Angela Barrett – “Good. So, Victoria, you are quite the little on to lure here. You 14 now, right?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Yes.

Angela Barrett – “I’m 14 and have, two published books. Right?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – That’s right.

Angela Barrett – “Amazing, amazing. So I’m back up a minute. You are originally from or born in Ukraine, right?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Yeah, I was born in Ukraine. I moved here when I was 11.”

Angela Barrett – “Okay. So about to two and a half years ago. Yeah, yeah. And so what core to South Carolina are you in?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – So I live in Greer. That’s right near Greenville.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, I know where that is. Perfect. So how do you like the US?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – I’m a I get I really wanted to live here.

Angela Barrett – “So now, what brought y’all over here? Your family.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – What?

Angela Barrett – “What brought you to the U.S.? I mean, I know your family, but why? But why? Well.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, we. Well, we were, like, searching for a place to move in, and, like, I really wanted to live in the U.S.. So my parents were all kind of like, okay, let’s.”

Angela Barrett – “Go to the U.S.. Good, good, good. So now, tell me how this started. You have two books in cash, and then you have another one. I laughed when I saw romance and 2014 romance, but I haven’t read it, so you can tell me about it. That that one’s called. I hope you’ll remember my name right.”

Angela Barrett – “So what brought on the idea, or how did you start your first book? Teen cash?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, I really like, like to read and talk about money in business since I was like a little kid. And my dad would talk to me about it a lot. And then I started reading business books like monkeys, all this Ferrari that’s like, just got us only covers, like all that stuff. That’s like more psychology, but it also, like, brings up the money.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “And I just like it was all really hard to read for, like, you know, just in case it was all made for adults. And I was like, okay, it’s too long, too hard. And like, I really want to make something for kids.”

Angela Barrett – Right?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “To read. So versus I didn’t I was 11. It was like the first time I started writing. Still in Ukraine, still in Russian language. It wasn’t Tinkercad, but it was something like that. And then I, moved to the U.S. maybe first couple months. I remember that I was doing that and I was like, oh, okay. I didn’t do it.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Like I didn’t finish it. So I decided to do it again from the beginning, still in Russian language. And I changed the word, but then I just forgot what it, I just stopped. And when I was already 13, I was like, okay, this is my third time I have to finish it this time. And that was like the first version of dingus.”

Angela Barrett – “And so now ten caches, like 25 Ways to earn, save and spend wisely. And again, I haven’t read the book. But I was dying to, get you on here when I realized you were only 14 with two post books. So, forgive me for that. Tell me. Give me a couple examples of ways to earn, save and spend wisely.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, I’m gonna show you an example that, like, did myself urge to write and publish a book.”

Angela Barrett – Because.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “It’s not even about publishing like a real a paperback copy about like, you can do it always, like online, like in the e-book on Amazon. And it’s open for like, all teenagers that actually want to do it. And that’s a way to make money. There’s, like babysitting, bed setting because like, I have friends that do it a lot.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So like, I knew I had a dog to.”

Angela Barrett – So what about the save and spend wisely? What’s your advice in the book for that?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So on saving money is I really feel like having a bank account or just a bank card is a really good thing because like you’re not getting paid as much, but when the money drops over the years, it starts costing like much less. Bank will pay you something from that. It won’t go over like the whole thing, but you won’t lose as much money as you would if you would keep it in cash and for spending them.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Like when I get my money, I always divide them in 3 to 4 parts. So some of them I put in my stocks, some I just have in my bank account, and the other ones I either spend for myself or I spend on something that I need for the books or festivals.”

Angela Barrett – So back up. You at 14 have stock.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Yes, I do nice.”

Angela Barrett – How did you learn how to do that?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, I read about it a lot and my dad knows something, so he helped me a lot.”

Angela Barrett – “That’s good. Yeah, I’m even more amazed at this point. So, top talk to me about, The process of writing, writing and publishing. I know you told me it took very advanced where you actually sat down and did the first one. So talk to me about what that process was like.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So I already started, like the final version of the Teen Guys I did. First of all, I did a lot of research. I had like tons of paper on my table, and they were all filled out with something. I was trying to find something that really works, and like I was talking to my friends or some people that know about it more than I do because, like, I didn’t try all of those ways, but I was trying to find something that would suit everyone.”

Angela Barrett – So.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “It was a lot of research, and then I was just trying to put it back together, and I get like 400 pages. And then I realized that it’s too long because, like, a lot of teenagers don’t like to read, but they might still want to know, like to have this knowledge. So then I decided to shorten it. So I had to cut out a lot of like and I found like it’s important, but I just knew I couldn’t leave it there.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “And I shorten it down to like hundreds and 20 pages. So it’s really easy there, like small chapters and those like the most important information.”

Angela Barrett – And so what about actually getting it published?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – So I started through independent publishing through Amazon. I couldn’t publish it by myself. So it was through that second. But I published it all by myself.

Angela Barrett – Yeah.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So it’s not that hard. It’s like it’s hard, but it’s not impossible to do so. Like on the published my first book, I’ve spent like, maybe two months, maybe three.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, the second book, it was like much easier. And I published it in a couple weeks. Right. It’s just a book knowing how to do it.”

Angela Barrett – “Sure. So, what inspired. Well, let’s go ahead and talk about your your second book. I hope you’ll remember my name. And you. So this is a romance. So tell me a little bit about the book, and then I’ll ask a few more questions.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Okay. So basically there is Leah and Emma. Leah is the new guide to the high school. And they live in a really small town. So Miss Leah.

Angela Barrett – Library.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Yeah it it just starts and then, girls start to disappear. Then they, I find they the, their dad and them, it’s a really small town. So Leah’s a new guy, and like, so Emma’s, best friend, Erica, she, like, she knows that something is really wrong about Leah. And, like, she believes that he’s the murder, but Emma doesn’t want to believe that.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “It’s just. It’s this when you in the center of a line, when you like, you know that it’s true. Like you actually know that they have good reasons to believe that. But you don’t want to. So they’re trying to figure things out. And I don’t want to spoil anything that’s. So this role is up.”

Angela Barrett – So now what inspired that book?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “No, nothing actually inspired that. I like to read romances. I started like maybe a year ago, year and a half. So I started reading those and like, yeah, I just got an idea.”

Angela Barrett – Gotcha.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “I was like, I had a lot of ideas. But then I had this idea and I was like, now I get it’s school. I want to write about that.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, yeah, well, that sounds interesting. Now, in your books, or at least this one with the were there characters? Or any of your characters somewhat based off real people in real life?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Not actually, but I modified the name of my friends and stuff to get it. So the they recall, like, I have a a friend and her name is Erica, but she doesn’t actually go by this name, and I just didn’t have any ideas for the name. So I was like, okay, I’m going to go with that.”

Angela Barrett – “I like it. I like it. And so, you’ve kind of explained what your message is and why you did Teen Kash, but what do you hope that people take away from? I hope you remember my name.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “There is not actually a message. It’s more like an entertainment book, but it still has like kind of a message that even when you see a person like you actually believe that he’s really bad, it’s not always going to come out like that, right?”

Angela Barrett – “Kind of like, don’t judge the book by the cover.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Yes.

Angela Barrett – “And so what is the,”

Angela Barrett – “We’ll I’ll get back to that in just a second. So where do you see yourself going, or is there a book three. It let me start there.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Okay. So I’m already starting to planning something, but I still haven’t started the writing part yet. So I still don’t know anything. And that’s something I can talk about. It.”

Angela Barrett – “Okay. Now where do you come out with your ideas? I mean, did they just come to you? You know, at night or in you’re laying in bed trying to go to sleep or how do you how did these ideas come to you?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “It’s mostly me just doing something. And then I just, like, have a light bulb lighting, lighting up in my. And I’m just like, okay, that’s what I like. I’m going to do that right now.”

Angela Barrett – “Where do you see yourself as far as a career in writing? Do you find yourself just doing this because you want to do it as kind of a hobby? Or do you maybe have the aspiration of, writing as a career?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So it’s more like a hobby to me like that. I like what I’m doing, but I don’t think I see it as a main career. So maybe like a second one, but not the main one.”

Angela Barrett – “So what are your interests as far as careers? I know you’re 14, but these days and time people, have you.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Planning to go for a business management field? Still don’t know, like their careers and stuff? Yeah. For teens.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, I.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Don’t actually want to decided yet.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, I don’t me, I don’t plan, now, is there did you find yourself having, trouble balancing maybe school in your writing because you really wanted to finish this, but you needed to school, or because it’s really kind of a hobby you didn’t find balancing it too bad.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, I’m doing a lot of school. Like, this week is going to be really hard because, like, I’m going to have a spring, spring fest in my school. So, I come to school at 745 and I’ll be there till like 8 p.m..”

Angela Barrett – Oh my.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Yeah, it’s like, a student council, mentioned impact. I’m going to use steam and, I’m recycling club, so like, I’m doing a lot.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Oh, yeah. It was pretty much hard to balance it. Usually I taught myself to wake up at about 4 or 5 a.m., just. But I can write a bit in the morning, so that’s what I usually do. My writing.”

Angela Barrett – “Who is your, favorite author? Who is the one that’s probably, maybe inspired you to most,”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “I would say a Robin Sherman. So for my pronunciation, I, I’ve read this year, I think so, yeah. I don’t know. Robin Sherman.”

Angela Barrett – And what’s that? They were a book.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “The monk castle, this Ferrari, that psychological book. But I love it.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Nice. Now, you mentioned you were self-published, and, and did that through, I think what the Amazon system. Right. And that was just because it’s it’s not easy or by any stretch of the imagination, because I have known and talked with other authors who have done the same thing, but there’s a lot less red tape through that.”

Angela Barrett – I guess.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So basically it’s like it’s much faster to you because I have a teacher in my school right now, and he’s an author too, though he’s not yet completely published because he’s doing it through a publisher, and it’s his third year trying. Gosh, just the book. Yeah. And I did my first in a couple months. So yeah, that’s kind of much faster, right.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “So the problem with self-publishing is you can get the book published pretty much first, but then there is no publisher that would market it marketed and stuff. So that’s what I have to do by myself.”

Angela Barrett – And so how have you been marketing?

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Social media, going to a lot of festivals. I didn’t have book signings just last week.”

Angela Barrett – “No, it’s that’s nice. So the other. I forgot where I was going. Sorry.”

Angela Barrett – “So social media is where you do your marketing, and you can buy this book. Is it in paperback? Is it ebooks?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “It’s both. So I can have my, e-book published for the romance yet. But I do have it for teen girls, and I have both in paperback.”

Angela Barrett – Nice. And Amazon does that as well.

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Yeah. There you have it. Look like I’m not only on Amazon. I am published and like a lot of big book stores around the world right now.

Angela Barrett – “How did you go about getting your book? You know, in other bookstores other than Amazon?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Well, some bookstores just took it. So I just got an email that I have my book published somewhere. It was like most of all around the world, but for books like, books for Million and Barnes Noble and second Charles, I had to actually go to a bookstore, try to figure it out.”

Angela Barrett – “And, they were pretty accepting of that, right?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “Yeah. Because, like, people see me like I’m drowning. I’m a teenager, and they like they pay attention to that.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Absolutely is amazing. It is. It is. So for people who you are in those bookstores and need, they can find you on, Amazon, any other online links that they can click and read. Or listen may be audible. I’m not sure.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – “I don’t have an audiobook, not yet. And I don’t think I’m planning to do it and like. And then close future. Let’s say that because, like, I didn’t think about it a lot, but I have my books on my website and there as an e-book on Amazon.”

Angela Barrett – “Okay, great. And, your website is what?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – So it’s literally Dead Space. My name is spelled a little bit differently because I’m from Ukraine. So hard to find right.

Angela Barrett – “Well, we’ll put it up on, we’ll have it somewhere on the website, on my website, so that people can find it. But is your name backwards? Last name first?”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – No. Yeah. Sorry. That’s face.

Angela Barrett – “Oh, okay, I gotcha. Oh okay. Yeah, I see that Victoria was to us that space. Yes I see that. Well, Victoria, I have really enjoyed this. You are an inspiration to not only teenagers, but to us as adults. I am looking forward to, watching you as you blossom not only, into adulthood, but into your writing.”

Angela Barrett – “And, we’ll have to do this again, after you finished, maybe the next one to see where you are and, how far you’ve come since then. I like to call them check ins, but we’ll do it again because this will be fun. Sure. That’s all right. Well, thank you so much for coming. And, I am really, really.”

Angela Barrett – “I can’t wait to go home and, tell the husband that I’m at a 14 year old who’s published and has stopped, and, thanks so much for being here.”

Viktoriia Krechkovsa – Thank you.

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Contact Info:

• Tel: Call Queen Quet
• Email: Queen Quet
• Website: Queen Quet
• Social Tag: @GullahGeechee

Queen Quet:

Angela Barrett – “Well, thank you so much for being with me today. It is such an honor.”

Queen Quet – Glad if they would honor Neil.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, I was going to say I probably should have told you. If you’re going to talk, real deep. What I call the the Gullah Geechee. I am probably not going to be able to understand you, which is terrible.”

Queen Quet – “The look. Yeah. And then just like a bunch of people would then sounds I a like, if you don’t even know all of what we the correct me to say. So I mean if on anything like that it. But I just want you to know, I can’t speak your language as well as I can help you up.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, that is one of my questions. I, well, first give you a story, and then I’ll tell you the question. I’ll give you the question. So my second grade kindergarten teacher loved to, speak Geechee. She would read all of our stories. And so the more that you hear it, the more you can understand it. But when you haven’t heard it in a long time.”

Angela Barrett – “And I remember trying to write, she would read Bir rabbit Berber. Okay. And that and I loved it. Absolutely loved it. But so now my question is, how do you learn to understand? Read it. Is there an organization, a place you can go to do that?”

Queen Quet – “Well, first of all, let’s let’s cover this far, okay? Gullah is the language itself, which is what you heard me speaking. Geechee is essentially a pigeon or a dialect of the Gullah language. So that’s why people who speak English and American English in particular, because that’s different all over the world to Englishes. Sure. You may start to feel like you understand it if people speak around, but more often not know if they are fluent in Gullah, that’s not going to just happen.”

Queen Quet – “And so whether it’s Gullah or Geechee, it’s largely oral. So therefore you don’t find a lot of it in writing unless there’s some academic or usually some non-cognitive person. There’s the they had a hold on it that tried to describe it in a negative way. So speakers could try to access it. But what I found over the years is a lot of that stuff is wrong.”

Queen Quet – “It’s written incorrectly because that’s not how we would say. And we can immediately figure out that, oh, we know whoever wrote this was in Gullah, right? And so so we say, yeah, yeah, because we would have said this or this with this word here doesn’t even exist. Just because they exist in English. So that’s been a thing. But now a lot of what we see, because I know we’re practicing now.”

Queen Quet – “Right. I’m posting on social media the way to try to connect to a lot of native Gullah Geechee, to a lot of them. The younger generations speak Geechee. They don’t speak Gullah because that’s the word they’ve grown up to in. It’s really integrated, and they are more exposed to English most of the time. So it may make more sense if we just put things out there.”

Queen Quet – “So there’s no school. There’s no one organization doing that. There’s no quote unquote standardized way for anybody. Right? There is still an oral language. And so definitely it’s something we take pride in have, and it’s always fun to hear people say to us, they relate to us. Like you mentioned that story and whistling and going, what?”

Angela Barrett – Yeah.

Queen Quet – “So let’s have that. Let me see what you looking at that. Well, read it in the whole intonations and inflections. Everything changes energy.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, yeah. And I don’t know, the book certainly wasn’t written that way. It was just the way she was.”

Queen Quet – Read it.

Angela Barrett – “To us. Yeah. Yeah, it was great. So tell us first. The Gullah Geechee Nation. Tell us about that, because that’s different than the the Gullah. UGC Island coalition, which.”

Queen Quet – “Absolutely. So, yeah, let me tell you. So the delegate to the Island coalition is older than the Gullah Geechee Nation. The Gullah Geechee Coalition actually will be 30 years old next year. They go to see how people listen. I found and it was the first organization, world history to have the word go out and get together in anything.”

Queen Quet – So you went to do any research you would have never found Gullah or something to put a dash. It was never meant to be a dash. Yeah. So this minute I don’t have anything I that barbecue sign to some degree. So I was using the internet before everybody one myself. Next to the government as the government at first.

Queen Quet – “And so they started releasing it so that the general public could use it. I was an early user. So one of the things I wanted to do was to find out what was on this thing. What is this thing? You know, castanets. That my thing, right? I’m Gullah Geechee. So what’s the internet? What are we going to disconnect from?”

Queen Quet – “I wondered, had they caught any ghost stuff? Had they caught any geeky stuff and I had to put those words in separately, like we would say, into the search engine? You’d have if you put those nothing you put, but you’ve got maybe one page you put in gets you, you, you got two case and that was it versus now you could be there for more fun if you put those words separately.”

Queen Quet – “And so the galaxy Owl mission was a vision that because there was so much this place of native languages have happened from the CIA between Jacksonville, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. So so I said, well, I got to do something about this. So I talked to elders that brought together the conference on my home island and Saint Helena Island, two stories.”

Queen Quet – “And they it was amazing because they got people from Florida and North Carolina and South Carolina and then working in zoom. And I’m thinking, I need to introduce these elders. And they’re working and going, They’re doing what I wanted to do. And I’m like, wait a minute, they know each other. And they looked and they largely had known each other from the civil rights movement and, yeah.”

Queen Quet – “And hadn’t seen each other since that time frame. And now we’re into the early 90s. So now I’m saying, well, wait a minute, we need to teach everybody that because now there’s that much more pressure to hold onto our culture, hold on to our land. They were like, oh my God, do that. And you go for the organization and we’ll just support what you’re doing.”

Queen Quet – “And I’m looking like, well, I wanted you all to be part of. Me y’all my elders, right? So I went on and established a delegate to Sea Island Coalition. And interestingly enough, Angela, I got more people across the United States and the world that got so excited about this organization and something that was going to help them learn about what that is.”

Queen Quet – “One of them had heard about we had a language and they didn’t really understand it. Like you mentioned, or someone read them something, they were like, where’d you get it from? And they’re like, I gotta be somewhere in South Carolina. They were like, where does this come from? So now every day of my life since I founded the organization, I get online and I post things to educate people about our culture.”

Queen Quet – “So one of the things they continued was the land displacement. So educating people that we don’t have the land, we won’t have the culture as our stuff for the land. And we and we did land and family and what were the big bloodline and things like that. And so with the waters being our bloodline and this land being our family, we have to say you don’t want it destroyed.”

Queen Quet – “And so that led to me being invited to the United Nations and that connection going to the United Nations is where I started being taught by the International Human Rights Association for American Minorities about human rights law. I didn’t know also, there were all these elders that now we’re trying to figure out a way to bring all these Gullah Geechee people together to hold on to their land and to continue to teach their cultural heritage to the children.”

Queen Quet – “And here, I mean, who is that? The College of Charleston, she contacted me and me, Doctor Yusef and God bless dad, who is a law professor but a native of South Carolina. All right. Right now there’s Canada. And they’re saying with what you’re doing with the U.N., you do realize you all have your human right to self-determination. You can stand on that.”

Queen Quet – “So the Cali Town Gullah Geechee People Foundation led a petition and a follow up that took place for one whole year from 1999, the first time I went to the United Nations and made world history again as the first delegates to ever speak before the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland. They were quoting as I was heading over there, and they had this will go on all the way until July 2nd, 2000, when I was still then elected as a head for body delegate nation.”

Queen Quet – “So I’m the official head of state for the delegates, making the first person to do that. So the nation is our own nation, like the United States is a nation, but in the nation we have numerous organizations. So going to Seattle and Coalition now, be it that it’s older than the nation, it actually is an organization in the nation, just like the Golgotha Angel necklace, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Community Trust that’s down in Florida.”

Queen Quet – “There are plethora of them. And so even pensando that happened is a nonprofit. It’s an organization, although it’s a historic site. So there are a lot of organizations in the nation. But the Gulf nation is amazing. And I’m the head of state. We have a Wisdom Circle Council of Elders, which is kind of my cabinet, and I call it my right hand.”

Queen Quet – “And they have an Assembly of Representatives. That’s why I left that. And I always say this, they can you if you want to try to think of it in the US, you might say, oh, they’re like the Congress. But I always say, but they behave better.”

Angela Barrett – “I love it. Absolutely. Let’s back this up for one second. Less what? I’m gonna let you explain the difference. And and where Gullah came from and where Geechee, I mean, because they are two different things, as you said. Tell everybody what it is. I know, other than a language who speaks it where it’s from and and from both of those.”

Queen Quet – “Yes. So a lot of times when people are coming down here and saying, like I did, it sounds like it now and again, if people like this show that a first time, they say, what a right, and we say it’s Gullah and they’re like, then what is that? Well, Gullah, like you said, is not only a language, it’s the people and the people who speak that language.”

Queen Quet – “And that language came into existence because of the enslavement of numerous African ethnic groups during chattel enslavement. So, yeah, yeah, it can come a link it usually by go like guys maybe, maybe numerous others who they brought together. They amalgamated their languages into what is now known as the Gullah language. And you got the word Gullah because at first, the Africans that were being kidnaped and brought to the region that we call the Lowcountry and the delegation nation were from Angola.”

Queen Quet – “So when they were sold at auctions, their name got bastardized into Gullah. It just got cut off. You know, our Southerners will cut it off and give you a nickname and all that. So they cut off Angola and would say, we have a cargo Gullah for sale. That word started being used over here because of that. And then when they started realizing that those folks were always in the uprisings, somehow they were always engaged.”

Queen Quet – “They said, oh, now we’re going to ban the importation of those, and they start shipping in another group whose name was Gullah Golla from the Windward Coast Rice coastal region, which is why in this area we are so connected and Gullah is so connected to rice, because that was the rice growing region. So in that region where the kids, the people or the GZ people, which is where the G.G. comes from.”

Queen Quet – “So when I heard those uprisings, when you think about 1739 and the Stonewall rebellion happened just down here on the coast between John’s Island and then going over to what’s now Hollywood Ravenel, where there was a store called the Hutchison Store right there. And there’s a marker a South Carolina state marker exists right now, hopefully now about this rebellion, this uprising.”

Queen Quet – “Right. And people call it Cato’s rebellion. Cato’s uprising. Those were Angolan leaders. A man at that, renamed Jimmy was Cato. And when he laid these men to leave John’s Island with our motto votes and roll across the highway 17, which was called the King’s Highway there. And they broke in that store. They got guns and armaments, and they’ve already made swords and things, and they were blacksmiths and they were blown up.”

Queen Quet – “Some of them ended up down a grassy yard. There’s Santa Teresa de Marseilles or Fort Mill, say, all the way in Florida. So got killed along the way. Some didn’t make it, but the result of the action became the slave roads that got that said, no black people were to read or write, no black people to own land, no black people were to play the drums or any of that.”

Queen Quet – “The Africans. Right. And no three or more Africans were to gather together without an overseer present. An overseer had to be a Anglo person, a white person. So if we’re not writing legally from 1740 until the end of the Civil War, it’s not legal for black people to read and write. Then when you start to write something like gold, it changes from gold la to g u la h over here.”

Queen Quet – “If you were to write guides, you don’t write g dci, you don’t write x e, you write g, g, g, e, c, h, e, and look, you’re on until the end. And no, I get for the week. Okay, that’s oh right. With the I know as a person there are no I’s in the spelling of G2 either. So you end up with people who are gullible or geeky people, or gullible people.”

Queen Quet – “And the reason that God showed me that when I founded the Golden Coalition and I wrote anything, promoted anything, put the words together, is because social anthropologist had divided it. So we needed to show our unity. So as computer scientists, that this land is something we work with as a mathematician, that that looks like a minus sign. Too much have been taken away from us already.”

Queen Quet – “So I knew don’t use a dead that use the slash because of the unified delegates. But now that handles the social media, I just I don’t need to slash it anyway. Right? So that’s how the origin of those came to be. But it goes fast and geeky. All the people. And then Gullah by self is a language, and kitchen by itself is a dialect of pidgin of the Gullah language.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, thank you for that because, it is and it can be, I tried reading as much as I could, but it you can get very bogged down in it because it goes back so far. Yeah. The history is like us. I’m confused now. I have to do this again another day and read it again, because it goes back a long way, a.”

Queen Quet – “Long way, and on a long distance in terms of miles. Because when we talk about between Jacksonville, North Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, and then all the city and in 30, 35 miles in to the mainland to the Saint Johns River, you have a massive barrier that things have been written out yourself from the 15, 16, 17, 1800 up to today.”

Queen Quet – “So like you said, yeah, you can be there all day and it doesn’t and for a lifetime and still learn more. And then it doesn’t help that these guys many times teach creative writing things where we have like Port Royal as a town and it sits on Fort Royal and we have Beaufort, South Carolina, and we got Beaufort, North Carolina.”

Queen Quet – That smell smells just right.

Angela Barrett – That’s absolutely.

Queen Quet – So that kind of doesn’t help sometimes when you’re trying to read the historical documents.

Angela Barrett – “That’s right, that’s right. So now, the you have a 25th anniversary coming up, some of the Gullah nation, right?”

Queen Quet – Yes. That’s correct.

Angela Barrett – Yes. So there are going to be y’all are going to have some big events. Tell us about that and what’s coming up.

Queen Quet – “Well, actually we already kicked it off.”

Angela Barrett – Oh did you. Good.

Queen Quet – “The open Black History Month on February 1st. We got everybody to come on down to Saint Helena Island to our reconstruction area, National Historical Park. So we will in the building, which is part of the historic and National Landmark story district. And we had people come from all over the place. We had people from all 40 states we’ve been talking about, and a lot of people, of course, in South Carolina.”

Queen Quet – “So we had a number of counties represented, and we had had a create art showcase. And so people had African American calligraphy artists like Marine Debris and turned into artwork. And so that’s the first case of where I have no, no one is going to be in Conway. 1st February 22nd March 2019. We’ll be in North Charleston, will actually be at the North Charleston Library.”

Queen Quet – “And so so I’m looking forward to seeing what the audience is. A lot like that because so many, many people loved art. All right. And so that’s up on in and of itself. So but yeah, we have a number of other fun things to do. So I’m a self-taught I love maybe you know I sing and so we could not do this without a celebration of Gullah Geechee art and artistry.”

Queen Quet – “Absolutely. Yeah. So for the first time, we’re going to go to Myrtle Beach to a black owned theater called Astor Theater, and we’ll be there the first weekend of April with a Gullah Geechee growing folk getaway, we call it, for the whole weekend. And that.”

Angela Barrett – That that sounds like fun.

Queen Quet – “It’s going to be fun. And that Saturday, from 11 to 2, we’re going to be at the Ashley Theater with Celebration Party for Sweetgrass Quilting. My mom and I so, so close to my hand, and there’s going to be a lot of music, so you got to have some soul. You’re going to have to have the Palm Beach thing on some of the markers, and you’re going to have some on and the for the fun of it band.”

Queen Quet – “And so fun you can Gullah. We have, Brittany Frazier out of Bluffton. She’s going to be there with Gullah Geechee food. We have Fried Daddy out of Charleston. He’s going to Elijah food. So all that’s going to go on so you can look at like a brunch, lunch, celebration. And then that’s going to be a big kind of keystone go, vine version.”

Queen Quet – “And then that evening at seven will be the Motown show. So people will have time between the two shows to kind of go outdoors. A lot of things go refresh themselves, relax at the hotel, and then come on back. And then the other big thing we do every year is going to Nation Appreciation Week. So we will launch it the last Saturday, July at Historic Center at noon.”

Queen Quet – “And then we usually say advertise noon to three. We have been able to get them people out of there at 3:00, okay. Because everybody’s they’re having so much fun. It it’s Gullah Geechee family the weekend that happens every week and it launches go to Nation Appreciation Week, which goes through to the last Sunday. And we have had on down the coast that that week, every, every I mean it’s just in person.”

Queen Quet – “So so we have have people events folks who want to keep up. They can get nation.com. There’s going to be email down there and then it always get up. And then if there’s social media people like I said on Instagram and contact still for a minute, as have I think that we’re going each nation on TikTok and we’re going each nation on Facebook.”

Queen Quet – And so they follow the with all the other events that happen at all in between. So we can all have a good time.

Angela Barrett – “Oh yeah. That does sound like a lot of fun. Absolutely. Now, if people would be more involved and, or get involved, how do they do that?”

Queen Quet – “I would love for them to become members of the election coalition. And like I said in the beginning, you do not have to be a native Gullah Geechee. You can just be someone who loves this culture, wants to see it thrive, who wants to see the cultural heritage continue if they go to yeah, they you’re on there and then become a member of that way you are involved with all kinds of activities when we’re doing these marine debris cleanups, we’re having just fun, and then we’re having a lot of educational sessions as well.”

Queen Quet – “You get that information before other people even do, and we’re always posting to you to get engaged and really be a part of all the civic work that we do as well. There’s a lot of environmental meetings we hold every year. We have our coastal cultural conference every year, he on Saint Helena, and this year we’re even going over to.”

Queen Quet – And so I live in LA. So there’s a lot of things that the members participating and they’re all over the world. We have members throughout the nation and supporters that all over the world. And that’s been the case for 29 years that we’re coming up on now.

Angela Barrett – “You’ve written several books. Let’s talk about those. You’ve got the, African seeds in In Winds in the wind. Tell me about that.”

Queen Quet – “So it was interesting. The first book that I ever published was a book, but it came about because first of all, I did plays and I did a play called a Get to Your Desk, and it was about the Underground Railroad, but how it all started in South and then people. Right. And it never just started in Canada or in the north.”

Queen Quet – “It started here. So we would educate people about the culture, and part of it was drama, and the other part was a lecture. So people would come to this and I brought it to pence. And this Heritage Day one time sold out the show, full House, Cedric Baptist Church. And so love them for like they love this video.”

Queen Quet – “But people asked why do you a history book from you and I was so other people’s history books, but they were like, this is not your book, I need a book from you. Right? So I was like, okay, but I’m also a poet. So my brother and I put together a book called Brother and Sister Heart to Heart.”

Queen Quet – “So the first year that I did this play at Penn Center, I had a line of people that wanted to leave the church for all my power because order was book. But this is a book, and I would write a poem based on their name right there, and then sign in my brother’s sign and take them so people on the line would see them say, oh, let me show you me.”

Queen Quet – “Hey, they I love this book. Book. I was like, all right, so you don’t want to buy this book now, but that book. But what a hits looking book, right? Okay. That’ll take a little longer. Right.”

Angela Barrett – Write.

Queen Quet – “So so I was like, okay, God is really pushing me. Go ahead and write my story books. I said, that’s history because I published writing articles. So it was like, okay, great, let’s do the book. So of course, my mother said, Charity begins at home and then goes abroad. So the first in this series, Africa is in winter.”

Queen Quet – “The diaspora is asking us so, so each year it’s about history. So one tells you about Saint Helena Island to God, that’s Baba and we. It’s about you for county. And so then we go into cotton rice indigo from we sold to the soil. And then I did a compilation of things called three 6566. So you could learn a little bit of history every day of the year.”

Queen Quet – “And I have Charleston, and Alex tells you about Boston County, and then also have, for place, which is telling me about the four operated areas throughout the nation. And then I thought we be Gullah Geechee, the legacy of people, land, and so forth. But that series of books tells you the perspective on the history here in the nation.”

Queen Quet – “So I have another blog of that series coming out this year, and then I have three children’s books that are already out as well. Oh, neat. Oh well, yeah.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, that’s a good place to start. I mean, kind of like my question, how do you learn? Not necessarily the language, but I mean the whole history because you sort of gotten it broken down where you don’t go online and go, holy moly. That’s okay. It can be overwhelming.”

Queen Quet – Yes.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. So that’s a good place to start. Or you’re the African seeds in the winds, series. That’s a great place to start.”

Queen Quet – “And most people do start there or with the legacy of evil Land. So people are really, really intrigued by the linguistics. Then they’ll get like, see, we volunteer because we do have a section. Well, we have Gullah in the pages. But then in the little margin area on the side, we have facades up and so people love us.”

Queen Quet – “But then my latest book, which is Daily Blessing Fun to See, the children’s book that I thought was for children, for more fun for themselves and for the kids. They love it because I wrote the whole thing and Gullah Geechee the whole thing. And so just like, like, novels that I came up with in 2020, I wrote and and so people love getting it.”

Queen Quet – “And I’ve learned that a lot on the new generation. A younger generation is it’s more accessible for them, because maybe the elders who spoke the language fluently have passed on a worthy to tell them and to teach them, you know, so they didn’t learn it at home the way I did. Like it is something you have to learn to live.”

Queen Quet – “Maybe you have to be there, speaking it, learning it, being a part of it. Similar to how when you were in school and you had those stories read to you, it made you remember that.”

Angela Barrett – Oh yes. Absolutely.

Queen Quet – “Like, yeah. And treasure it and sweat. If nobody does it, then you lose.”

Angela Barrett – “It. That’s right, that’s right. Well, that is fascinating. I think I could probably talk about this all day. Again, it brings just back what you said. Those childhood memories. Second grade. So much. And so when I found out that you had agreed to come on, I was like, yay.”

Queen Quet – “Yay! I said yay! That’s like a line out, like, oh, I want to talk about South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely, absolutely. Well, thank you so much for being with me today. And, I look forward to, keeping up with all the social media platforms that you guys have and, and your website, which is what I’m looking at now, which is where I found all the books and the very lengthy, awards and acclamations and everything that you have.”

Angela Barrett – “Y’all just have to go on yourself and see. It’s it’s a lot. She’s done a lot. And, I am honored that you’re here today.”

Queen Quet – “I’m honored to be here, especially during Black History Month. This is really a treasured time for me, and I appreciate being able to make history by talking, yes, black in the day.”

Angela Barrett – “And so go tell them. Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you so much.”

Queen Quet – Thank you.

This is dedicatedntonWreaths Aross America and to all thos who help and support Veterans, Past, Present and Future. Thank you!

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Episode transcript:

Angela Barrett – “Hey, Carol. Thanks for being with me today.”

Carol Davis – “Well, thank you, Angela. Thank you for having me.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. Now, Carol, you’re the location coordinator for, Wreaths Across America for the Fort Jackson. Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Correct?”

Carol Davis – Correct.

Angela Barrett – So what does a location coordinator do? Because it sounds like you do a lot more than tell people where the location is.

Carol Davis – “It’s a little bit a little bit, but our job and there is a group of us, we have a team. Our job is to organize the program, organize as the, wreath purchases, let people know, reach out to the community, to businesses, organizations and individuals and let them know exactly what Wreaths Across America is and why we have it.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, that brings me to my next question. Tell me what wreaths Across America is.”

Carol Davis – “Wreaths Across America is a program to remember and honor our veterans who have passed. Remember, honor and teach is our motto. Remember those that served and had passed. Honor those that are still serving and have served. And to teach our children that freedom isn’t free and it’s at a cost that one day they may be asked to pay.”

Angela Barrett – “Right now, this is, a year long project for you guys to get ready for what is really right at Christmas time. But, tell us when and why this all started. Give me a hint.”

Carol Davis – “Well, some will tell you that it happened by accident. I don’t believe in this type of accident. I believe that was a divine purpose. The Wooster family up in may have been in the wreath business for generations. They have miles and miles and miles of balsam forest and their business. They tip these trees. They’re not cut.”

Carol Davis – “They’re tipped. And the rest are made that way. Will Morrow Wooster, who is head of the family now? About 25 years ago, they ended up with about 5000 wreaths at the end of the season. And he remembered as a small boy winning a trip to Washington from his paper route. And he went to Arlington National Cemetery and was totally impressed.”

Carol Davis – “And it stuck with him. So he thought, you know what? I’m not going to suppose that these wreaths I’m going to call up there. So he called Arlington and he said, hi, I’ve got these wreaths. We would love to get them to you. And they said, well, sure, but you’ll have to come up here and put them out.”

Carol Davis – “We can’t do that. So he packed a man a truck, packed his family, and off he went to Arlington. And for about 5 or 6 years, the family did that. That was their big thing. That family thing. Well, it caught on. People started saying, well, how can we do this for our cemetery? So the family started reconsidering their business and decided that they wanted to give back.”

Carol Davis – “And that’s technically how Race Across America started. People heard about it and saw about it. Now, to be honest, I don’t know anywhere in the world. I don’t know how they do it, but I don’t know anywhere in the world. You can buy a real balsam wreath for $17. How they do it? I don’t know, but they do.”

Carol Davis – “And, so every year nail all across the country and this year it would be in 4800 cemeteries in the in the U.S. and in other countries where we have our veterans buried. We’ll be placing over 4.5 million trees across the country this year.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow.”

Carol Davis – “Yeah. And the thing is, people make the mistake of saying Christmas tree. This is not a Christmas tree. This is a veterans memorial wreath. And it’s to remind us that we are to honor, respect, and know that they are loved and that they are victorious. Now they have passed. But you’ve got to realize and remember that a veteran does twice, once when they draw their last breath and the last time their name is spoken out loud.”

Carol Davis – “So we encourage everyone at every cemetery. When you go and place that wreath, say their name. Say it out loud. It’s important to keep their spirit alive.”

Angela Barrett – Right in there. That brings me to. Because I’ve heard you say this several times. Tell me there’s this important. Someone talk about the importance of one.

Carol Davis – The importance of one is amazing. We are the one. One person tip that tree. One person took those boughs and made a wreath. One person packed that ring. One person put it in a truck. One truck driver drove that truck here. One person unpacked it. One person. Place that wreath. One person sponsored that raid. We are all the ones.

Carol Davis – It is up to us. The ones to remember. An honored veteran.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, I like always. Like when you tell a story. That’s a good one. And so now back to the wreaths again. We don’t call them Christmas wreaths. You said they’re called. What, again?”

Carol Davis – They are veterans Memorial rates. We are remembering them respecting ban and honoring their victory over death.

Angela Barrett – “And so, for those who’ve never been to one of these ceremonies, can I go over? What happens? And then we’ll get to how we get there to that. You name some of that, but you’re remembering one. But I talk about that day and how special it is.”

Carol Davis – “Well, people hesitate sometimes. They think that you’re going to be depressed coming out to a cemetery. You’re not the. It’s the final resting place for thousands of our South Carolina veterans. And when you step on that property, a calm comes over. You. You know that those veterans at peace are at peace there. We go there to make that happen.”

Carol Davis – “It’s a trick trying to take care of thousands of people. But because of the ones that volunteered. It happens. And it happens smoothly. We had the ones of the military that participate. We have the ones of the Jared season, the scouts and the adults and the organizations. Our sheriff’s department, everybody, all the ones come together to make it happen.”

Carol Davis – “And when you come out that day, you will see what it really means. We have a wonderful program. Music, good people speaking that let you know from their heart what it means to honor of the veteran. I will say that you’ll have a few laughs. The Department of Correction and the Sheriff’s Department have donated busses to help us transport people into the cemetery.”

Carol Davis – “Because we have so many a time, we literally have thousands. We had about 7000 last year. And so we don’t have vehicles in the cemetery for that protection. So the joke is you’ll be riding the prison bus if you had to put it, getting on. Will wonder if you’ve written it before or would they care less again.”

Angela Barrett – When.

Carol Davis – Arts get a really big kick out of it? But it’s because everyone has come together that all the ones. All the ones.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Now there is a in an official ceremony. I know, like, for when you go to a funeral. A lot of times you hear taps and, just going to assume that that is played there, as well. And visually.”

Carol Davis – Absolutely.

Angela Barrett – “I got to cry on that one anyway. But,”

Carol Davis – “There is a funny little story about that from the 16th year. And when we had our first ceremony. I was involved with a deployment program, out at Fort Jackson and the 1/71 were the ones that accommodated us for everything that we asked for to help. And so when I approached them and I said, I want taps and I want a 21 gun salute.”

Carol Davis – “They said, no, you don’t. Oh, no, no, no, I want a 21 gun salute. No, Miss Carroll, you do not want a 21 gun salute. Now, I thought, well, what do I want? He said, you want cannons? I want Anna, I want handguns have froze. For the first several years, we had cannons. And then I got a call after the same ceremony one year from the director, and he said, Miss Carroll, we can’t have cannons anymore.”

Carol Davis – “And I went, why not? He said, well, you know that nice new columbarium that we built? He said, well, the cannons repercussion kind of cracked them.”

Angela Barrett – Oh. Whoa.

Carol Davis – So that was the last time we had cannons. But Fort Jackson. And so we’re going to have in place.

Angela Barrett – Of that now.

Carol Davis – We have the 21 gun salute.

Angela Barrett – “All right, so we’re bringing that. All right, for now.”

Carol Davis – “We’re back to the 21 gun salute, and we get that. And, Fort Jackson, McIntyre. Shaw Joint base. Yes. They all participate. They all help. And we had just numbers of that. I’m just oodles of veterans.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Fantastic. Yeah, I’ve seen videos. I’ve just never personally been. My goal is obviously this year to get there. Oh, you, So now and these, these are the people that place the wreaths on, the grave site. They do that during this ceremony or is that already been done?”

Carol Davis – “Oh, no no no no, the, that’s the wreath placement ceremony immediately follows the actual ceremony program. And the our public is invited to go out and help place raise. Now we do have family placement starting at 9 a.m. that morning until 1130, where families can come in and place their wreaths prior to the ceremony. Okay. They had the honor of placing their wreath and spending a little time there and and with their family and and I don’t want to say enjoy, but feel that closeness with them.”

Angela Barrett – “For sure should be a joyous, to be able to do that. And we’ve been talking about this, but we’ll give everybody it’s December 14th. What? Yeah.”

Carol Davis – Correct. The actual ceremony starts at noon. The busses will start bringing the public in at ten. Yeah. Starting Easter? Yeah. Our parking. Is it the Blue Cross Blue Shield parking lot on Percival Road? You will be directed because you will not be the. The sheriff’s depart will not let you into the cemetery. So you will be directed straight to that parking area.

Carol Davis – “And, there’ll be plenty of people to tell you where to park and hop on a bus. And I will tell you, security is tight, so don’t get upset if a dog sniffs you. It’s a good dog.”

Angela Barrett – “Long as you’re not getting anything wrong, or your.”

Carol Davis – Long as you got nothing on you. You’re okay.

Angela Barrett – “Now, how did you get started in this? How did you get involved?”

Carol Davis – By accident. Again?

Angela Barrett – I don’t believe that.

Carol Davis – “I was working with, Like I said, the deployment program for Task Force Marshall at. At Fort Jackson, and, the cemetery wasn’t even built then, but a friend of mine was working with the program over at Florence National Cemetery. And she said, you know, Carol, she said, you really ought to get the program going here at Fort Jackson.”

Carol Davis – “And that’s about there is a cemetery finished yet. But what we did is she went with me, bless Laurie’s heart. And we talked to Jean Lynch while our. And, I will say he was he was very sweet, very tongue in cheek. When I explained to him the type of program I wanted to do and he said, well, mascara.”

Carol Davis – “Let me just say this. He said, I’ve worked many cemeteries that had had the program, and probably the best you can get is get a few people to help you unload the truck and put out the race as a you do not know the Midlands of South Carolina because we are the most military friendly community there is and people are just waiting for an opportunity to be told what they can do to remember and honor our veterans.”

Carol Davis – “And he just smiled. And the first year, we only had 346 graves out there. But we had more people than that that first year. Each year it has grown. And Jean Lynch, well, I actually retired last year. And he said, you know, I have to admit you did it. He said, never in my wildest imagination that I think this, this ceremony would be the size it is and reach as many people.”

Carol Davis – “He said, you are our number one program. I said, well, thank you, but don’t thank me. Thank all the people, all the ones that said yes. I get to hear all the oh, you did great. I didn’t do great. Our team did great. I mean did great. One person cannot do this that it’s analyzable.”

Angela Barrett – “Right. I agree it does. It does take, more than one, but it does take a leader. And I think you’ve proven that for sure. Now, when did you. You said when you first started there? We. The first time y’all had 16 years ago, the ceremony. There were only. How many graves?”

Carol Davis – “346. And how many do you have now? There I go. This year, 17,000 wreaths. There are 17,000 people buried there, but there are not that many headstones.”

Angela Barrett – “And,”

Carol Davis – “But the reason we set our goal for this number is to keep ahead of the game a little bit each year. Because the cemetery is growing so rapidly, they’re averaging 125 burials a month. And with Florence filling up and Buford filling up, everyone will be coming here that wants to be buried at the national set, a national cemetery.”

Carol Davis – “Now, that’s not to say that all of the graves are filled at Florence and Buford, but they’re all spoken for. Gosh, they’re already been crying. So ours is increasing rapidly.”

Angela Barrett – “Right. Yeah, I would imagine, yes, at that rate. Now, Lewis Carroll, you are a lithium, a cancer survivor, correct?”

Carol Davis – “Oh, yes. I didn’t know you knew that.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, one more, testament to, what a strong person you are. Tell me a little bit about that experience. I know it was when you finally rang the bell. I know that was a probably a.”

Carol Davis – Heck I was. I danced to the bell.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, I bet you did. Now, And when was that? The. When you, Your last cancer treatment.”

Carol Davis – My last cancer treatment was in August of 19.

Angela Barrett – Wow. Wow. Congratulations.

Carol Davis – “And, so I pleaded my five year.”

Angela Barrett – Yes. Congratulations. And that is a big step. And I.

Carol Davis – “It is mad, not February. My doctor walked in that room, just a few weeks ago with the biggest smile on his face, and I went, is that a good smile? He said, you’re still my miracle patient.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, because you actually had stage four.”

Carol Davis – I did.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, I am telling you, I know that people say this all the time, but when you have watched people in your family or friends with cancer and someone like you, is ups, a lot of times it is mind over matter. You have to have that mindset and then obviously a good team of doctors, but I mean good.”

Carol Davis – Team of doctors and the good.

Angela Barrett – “Lord. That’s right. That’s exactly right. A lot of prayers. But, yeah, just one more testament to your, your strength. And, I’m sure that plays a lot with your leadership and how well you, have done there.”

Carol Davis – “There again, a lot of people supporting me.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. In the team. Absolutely. So now you also had something coming up, the night this coming Monday, right?”

Carol Davis – “Is that right? I do have. Well, December 9th.”

Angela Barrett – I was December 9th.

Carol Davis – “That’s right. December nights are is. But I actually do have something coming up. It’s Monday, and I’ll tell you about that in a minute. But. All right, December 9th, we had the Race Across America ceremony at the South Carolina Veterans Memorial on the state House grounds. Yeah. And, and that will be at noon, and the public is invited.”

Carol Davis – “And in keeping with that, on, Monday at 9:00 at the state House of Representatives, Chris Wooten and Representative Micah Caskey will be presenting us with the governor’s proclamation claiming December is Race Across America Month and the state of South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, nice. He’s from Lexington, where I am.”

Carol Davis – So you’re sanctioned to meet her? That’s right.

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. So the nights at noon will be at the state House, and that’s December night. And then December 14th at new the Connecticut there early, like Fort Jackson held at the Fort Jackson. Now, how far are y’all away from the goal that you guys.”

Carol Davis – “Right now. I’m kind of sweating bullets. It’s the same this time. Every all of a sudden. Oh my gosh, I forgot the order. And we have until the 3rd of December. But we’re about 5000 short right now, so yeah yeah, yeah. But there again, we are within 3000 of our actual need. So between that goal and the need.”

Carol Davis – “So, I have confidence I had. I sweat bullets this time every year that the community comes through.”

Angela Barrett – “And so what we need is, people to purchase wreaths and or donate whatever, right?”

Carol Davis – “Yeah. I mean, they can go online and donate. They can, contact me. I can send them a form. On our Facebook page, you can go there and go through, not PayPal. What is it on there where you can donate?”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, okay. I’m not sure which one it is. But. Yeah. So. Okay. So for anybody listening, you need to go right now to the Facebook page. I it is,”

Carol Davis – “There’s a form on the Facebook page where I do a QR code and go straight to our three for two page for every two weeks that are donated. The national organization, will donate a third wreath. Three. And that website is Wreaths Across america.org/fc 0015.”

Angela Barrett – “Right. And so if you’re just typing in it’ll be read across America. Fort Jackson National Cemetery or South Carolina Fort Jackson National Cemetery, I think is how it goes. But if or what, you know,”

Carol Davis – “You come out the Facebook page, other.”

Angela Barrett – “The website, if you just it is.”

Carol Davis – Still in reach across America. Yeah. Wreaths crawl sweetheart. That’s that’s not org and then SC NC will bring you to the that page the main page. Or you can after the.org you can do slash SC 0015 to go to the three for two page.

Angela Barrett – “Perfect. So guys we need some donations and we need some wreaths. But we only have gosh today’s the 12th. So we don’t have very long before the third before the cutoff. So exactly now as far as the public, if people want to go, do they need to purchase tickets or they just just show up at school and get on the prison bus.”

Carol Davis – And there is no age limit. You can be one day all or you can be 250 years. Okay. You can. Everyone is welcome.

Angela Barrett – “Perfect. Now, I know that I think you’re volunteered for physical volunteers to help. I think that cutoff has already come down, so. But if people would like to get involved, maybe for next year, because this does take a enormous amount of people, it does to plan because you’ll no more finish this. And I think I asked you a long time ago, two.”

Carol Davis – “Weeks, we’ll have two weeks to rest, but actually we’ll have four weeks to rest. And then it’s time to clean up the cemetery and start all over again.”

Angela Barrett – Right? So you don’t get a whole lot of a break there. It really does take a full year. So they can also go to the website or on Facebook page to sign up for volunteers for an extra.

Carol Davis – “Scan, and they will be able to sign up that day. When they go to the information tent at Blue Cross and they’ll be able to just sign up at Bud Food, put on our contact list to be notified for next year.”

Angela Barrett – “Perfect, perfect. Well, Carol, thank you so much for, coming on today and talking to us about, Wreaths Across America. This was interesting. I can’t wait to physically get there this year. Again, I’ve seen videos, but never physically been there, and I think this is going to be phenomenal. I encourage everybody to, again, go online right now and, either the Facebook or the, website and donate.”

Angela Barrett – “We’re, we’re kind of behind on our, donations and wreaths that we need. Right. So let’s get on that, guys. Absolutely.”

Carol Davis – I have confidence and faith in everyone that. That’s right. It’s going to happen.

Angela Barrett – “And that’s right. Well, thanks again for coming.”

Carol Davis – “Thank you sweetie, I appreciate that.”

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Contact Info:

• Tel: (803) 772-1555
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Episode transcript:

Angela Barrett – “Hey guys, thanks so much for being with me today. This is exciting.”

Anthony Buzzetti – What? Thank you very much for having us. I’m Anthony with Special Olympics.

Travis Luthren – And I’m. I’m who? I was early to win. And thank you so very much for the opportunity.

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. Thank you for doing this. So now, Travis, in 2014, you won two gold medals, right? At Special Olympics USA, right?”

Travis Luthren – I’m a yes. That is correct.

Angela Barrett – And that was for what?

Travis Luthren – Down with the two of me?

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Now, were there two different? I mean, explain like, I know there are different, types of swimming events, but what were your two gold medals for?”

Travis Luthren – “One in your best work and one where they freestyle? But, but the best work is a personal history with me. Well, because from the very beginning. The very beginning. Backstroke with a hard for me. So I have in for many period of time.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, I was going to say now the backstroke hard for anybody because I always think that I’m going to be my head when I get to the other end of the pool and you’re like, you don’t want to really keep going. But that is a hard one. Congratulations. How fantastic they are, baby man. Tell me about that experience there at the Olympics.”

Angela Barrett – How was that.

Travis Luthren – “It? Well. Prove it. It was phenomenal. It was a great period for me. Because I was with my peers. One of my training, I yeah, one of my coaches, he would. He was there as well. And what I experienced then and and my mom, they were there as well as a part of me and Phil.”

Travis Luthren – “Dad. And, they had the emotions, my mom was, well, but, well, her that. My mom is my biggest cheerleader. And then, as he knows my his past well from the very, very beginning to his 1990. Yeah. Then the backstroke was still hard for me back then. And, in the year 2014, my, mom was more than proud, dying up with their backs to it.”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, yes.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. And again, congratulate nations. Now, when did you when did you start swimming?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, I started in 1997.”

Angela Barrett – And how old were you?

Travis Luthren – “Well, right now, they five.”

Anthony Buzzetti – How old were you when you started swimming?

Travis Luthren – “Oh, I, I was eight years old. You had to be, eight years old to be able to compete.”

Angela Barrett – “And so, how did you learn to swim? Who taught.”

Travis Luthren – “You? Well, this is a very touching set. Said. But what? One of my car broke up that, I am, yeah, that was you meet. Her name is Miss Simone. MSU was the one that taught me how to, how to swim.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. That’s great. So now when that was not your first Olympics, was it? Or was it.”

Travis Luthren – In 2014? That was my first.

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. That is a big accomplish to gold. Fantastic. Now, I understand you like to go polar plunging.”

Travis Luthren – “I mean, I, I am most definite. I said the, It is a great event. We have probably, how we, 10,000, people take, that and that goes out and get in. Do they code? Oh, they call water.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, I don’t know, but, Well, yeah, you like that kind of stuff. I’m just going to tell you now. No, I don’t, but now, how many of those have you done? Because you don’t just do them here, you go other places and do them, too, right?”

Travis Luthren – “That is correct. But I’ve been, doing the polar plunge, probably doing the to, How were you in the 20 tens and 2000 time nine? Wow.”

Angela Barrett – So now what would you say was the coldest one you ever did?

Travis Luthren – “Well, the very, very first one was, at, a Harley’s Island. There’s a pub down and, at parties Island, and that was the very first, the. That was so cool. And cold to me. Yeah. I bet.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, that that had to be cold. And you know what? My hat is off to you because. No, thank you. I can’t do the cold water. Now, when you came home from the Olympics in 2014, you started a program called, to a cop. What was that all about?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. Typical cop. Well, Well, Special Olympics, we have a lot of na enforcement and the law enforcement and special, Olympics and the appendix we, combine especially with Nathan’s chip and, and and one of the nine enforcement, Me and the person with nine policemen, I says, this I decide to do a backup.”

Travis Luthren – “Where we go, there was a restaurant in the old stomping ground called, and, oh, hot dome fire. American Grill, right near in Pike in South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “And so we’re the, the typical the money that you raised in that program. Where did it go for it go.”

Travis Luthren – But as a a occurred to me to the law enforcement program.

Angela Barrett – Oh nice. Very nice. Now does that program still exist?

Travis Luthren – “Yes it does. Oh, I we always host to backup, event. We done Wednesday. We done Krispy Kreme. We done covered the cruiser at CCF. Pizza. But as you graduate in the past and now we have expanded, the law enforcement program, and we’re always doing some new and creative. Law enforcement events.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well that’s fantastic. That’s a, that’s a great program. And, good for you for, including them and some extra. Thank you. Now you’re actually now an employee. The South Carolina Special Olympics, correct?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes, that is correct.”

Angela Barrett – “And as a program associate, is that right?”

Travis Luthren – I am most evening. That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “Okay. Now, what does a program associate do? What do you do? What’s your job?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. I, well, heard is that I do a number of of everything. Let me give you some examples. Okay. My main, And my main job is to do fundraising in the community. I also do, I write personal. Thank you to everyone that donate that owns a company. And I most definitely go around, to different types of events.”

Travis Luthren – “That requires for me to, to be a to speak on TV type, engagements. So I do that. And, and I must do every event when I get a phone call from my boss that says that we need you.”

Angela Barrett – So who’s your boss?

Travis Luthren – “Well, there’s, well there’s two, DC. I’m, the CEO of Special Olympics, Mr. Barry Coates. And the vice president, Miss Simone.”

Angela Barrett – “Gotcha. Gotcha. Well, they’re lucky to have you. Now is it?”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, and, here’s where and, and here’s what. So, in the stand, just to those two has a personal background with me. The CEO and the vice president has been known to me since I was, seven, eight years old in the year of 1998.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. Now, how did they know you that far back?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, because, the, Well, with Michelle, well, I was the one that taught me how to swim. And the CEO, Mr. Barry Coates. The old location where they used to be was downtown, and downtown Columbia. And during that time, my mom, she wanted me to be involved with Special Olympics. And then that’s where I first met Barry Codes.”

Travis Luthren – “And, the both of them has been, there for me from the very beginning.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, how sweet. And that’s what a nice relationship, though. That’s great. Let me ask you this. You’re the director of, community outreach, right?”

Anthony Buzzetti – “That is correct. Yes, ma’am.”

Angela Barrett – And how long have you been doing that?

Anthony Buzzetti – “I’ve been here for six years. It’s been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I don’t know how it is that I ever had a job that I didn’t like, because it just seems impossible. I, I come to work every day looking forward to actually interacting with not only my coworkers, but in particular the athletes. There’s just such, joy here.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “I know that sounds kind of corny, but it’s true.”

Travis Luthren – “No, I, I yeah.”

Angela Barrett – “That’s fantastic. I know everybody in there and their brothers and sisters would wish for that. I mean, this that’s the perfect, perfect job. Now, what is what’s the biggest part of your job? What is it? It’s the glue, I guess, for you.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure. Well, for me, my job is to try and secure volunteers because we need just a bunch of folks at all of our events. And then certainly, we like to have folks come out to help us when we have small groups of athletes getting together to either do a supporting training session, or coaches also need to be part of our our family.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “We’d like to think that our volunteers are our family, because without them, we could not continue to offer our programs and our competitions. So yes, that’s the the biggest part of my job here. But the most fun and most rewarding aspect is getting to interact with the athletes, which I get it, you with both. Ashley, coworker of ours and Travers on a weekly basis.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “And yeah, it’s just a very fun thing. So it’s a great fun.”

Angela Barrett – “Now, Travis, let me ask you this. You started a program called Walk This Way, right?”

Travis Luthren – “I, me a yes, Fred.”

Angela Barrett – And now tell me a little bit about this program. What what what is the program? What’s it do?

Travis Luthren – “Well, the, Okay. Well, the program is this, Journey? Yeah, definitely a journey. During the years my coworker and I, music Anthony got me involved. Now I go outside to take a walk to, and to be, for me to eat. Right. And we have, I mean, to be able to work out, but, but be honest with me.”

Travis Luthren – “I been through quite a few things in my life. Yes, I was, obese. Yes, I was overweight. I didn’t, care about my health. I didn’t understand the food that I eat every single day. And I was on so many different types. And medication. Now I, like, I take pills for my gout history. I, I had, a good, medication, but I had, some tab of, surgery and some.”

Travis Luthren – “I says, and, and that’s why I started this program, and it’s very dear to me. And I just want people to know and learn what if you go outside and walk, it can help you, right?”

Angela Barrett – “As I go through that, you’ve lost, like, 79 pounds. I understand right?”

Travis Luthren – “Net, 95 pounds.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. Okay. Excuse me. Well, congratulations on that as well. So would you say I guess your health, with the help of Anthony has probably been. Was probably what made you start this program?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes. Correct. His personal background. He used to own in Time Fitness. He’s a somewhat of a non guy, dad. And he. And he’s been doing that way before. He came in to me and came along to this company.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah. Quite the athlete with.

Anthony Buzzetti – “Travis is giving me far too much credit. It should be noted that while it was true I was there, I was only an assistant. It was Travis who did everything. His level of dedication was very clear. Not exactly from the start. If it’s some encouragement. At first, it was very difficult to get him out because he would have difficulty just walking up a flight of stairs.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure did have some terrible reflux, as he mentioned, and he now no longer takes his medication because with the loss of weight and the more healthy choices, what he’s eating is, he’s sleeping better. He has far better cardiovascular health. And, yes, I’d like to think he’s going to live a much longer and happier life as a result.”

Travis Luthren – “And yes, that is correct. And I’ve, I’ve got to mention this to you, but, my doctor, I have, my mom’s company. His name is. His name is Nate Stocker. He and Nate said to me, that he, what was it he said? He said Darren and game, and he gave me a good look at me, and he turned to me and encouraged me to, take a device.”

Travis Luthren – “The, he helped me to take my, determined that I need to walk. He was the one that bring my, to give me the tools to pass it along to my coworker. And Nate Stark is very dear to me, and, And I can thank him, and I can thank him in the way that he had helped me.”

Travis Luthren – “I had, and now of a support system. And does the way people is my data. Nate Stocker my coworker, Miss Anthony Bessette and Nevaeh Nast, one my, yeah, my own mom, Miss Susan, mean, so when.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, that is a that’s a fantastic support system, by the way. And, good for you for doing the work. And now I understand you’ve become quite the, what’s the word I’m looking for? You go around and talk to people about their health and encourage them to wall, which I guess is part of this walk with me program.”

Travis Luthren – That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “And so when you go around and you speak with these people, do you tell them not only is it important to do the walking and eating correctly, but to have the support system as well, because I think that’s a big part of it, don’t you?”

Travis Luthren – “Most definitely. What you don’t have as a post system from the very beginning. And and during the night time, you always need to put the, system where it is evident then how you do the work.”

Angela Barrett – “Right? Right. And so now tell me about this going around, and talking to, I guess different schools or different organizations. How do they, how do you do? They reach out to you and say, hey, come walk with Travis today with us, or how’s it work?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. They call, my coworker, and my coworker makes the appointment, and we our. And he comes and picks me up from our house and we go to them to do some, business, and, and he also takes me to the, the schools in the District of South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, nice. And so, Anthony, sorry, this is if somebody like, let’s say a an office, you know, come January, everybody’s going to be, you know, on this health kick. So, they want, you know, somebody to come in and encourage, you know, I don’t know, once a month, once every other week, once, you know, they just reach out to you and, and try to work that out.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Yes, ma’am. I think it could be said that I am Travis’s booking agent, and one of my job is to certainly make sure that we know and that we let folks know who are interested, and we’re happy to come out and be with them. And we’ll certainly work around their schedule. Like, yes, we have a relationship with any number of schools.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “You know, Luke of Elgin High School comes to mind. River Bluff High School here, right at, couple of middle schools and elementary schools. Dominion Energy is a partnership.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah. Did see that.

Anthony Buzzetti – “We are more than happy to join. And what we’re trying to do is really just inspire folks, allow them to see that, you know, getting in shape or taking control of your health, while it may be somewhat tedious, can also be fun, especially when done in a group setting. And so it’s just a fun event. We try and emphasize the fact that it’s not as hard as it it seems, but yet we’re all there to support one another.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “And so I’d like to think it works pretty well. And we’ve got engagements. We’ve got a big walk coming up. It’s November the 25th, Saluda shins, LaBelle Trot and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Travis Luthren – “So yes. I mean, we, Sammy Davis correct. But I think, we’ll be okay. I can share my personal, with the program that I diet. All right, if I may.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. Because I was going to ask you when you started and, you know, like, how long this is taking you to, to do all that. So to definitely tell me that.”

Travis Luthren – “Well, to be honest, with you,”

Travis Luthren – “Diabetes, mind and the family and the of the have, there’s a lot of. At the heart, and, and when it comes to alcohol, it’s very, very, Course, our history and mind. What? Because,”

Travis Luthren – I had last a parent.

Angela Barrett – “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, well. Thank you. But, that’s what I I’m good. 12. What I need to take care of. I do want, my history to go to dinner. I did go to the next year waiting in my damn need to have those to family because I grew up with them, but, Yeah, then my senior, Grayson.”

Angela Barrett – Right. And so when did you start? How long has this taken? So when did you start your journey to get healthier and lose weight?

Travis Luthren – “But, Yeah. Boy, that’s a good question. Probably 2022, 2020 the way.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “It was actually January 11th, 2022. So we took our very first formal walk on that day.”

Travis Luthren – And nice.

Anthony Buzzetti – That was a cool.

Angela Barrett – The 22 said just a little over two years.

Anthony Buzzetti – “Yes, ma’am. Ma’am.”

Angela Barrett – “So, perfect way to do it. There is from what all I’ve read and heard and been told, you know, nice and steady and slow, is a good way. And so.”

Angela Barrett – “Tell me in this groove, I think so tell me what the Rainbow Gang is. There’s a.”

Travis Luthren – “I’m, I’m okay. Well, the rainbow game is a, is a group where individuals like me, they, they provide, things in the community, and, and and this in, in South Carolina and they provide, my coworker could tell you what, what they did, but then. Okay. In in addition to happen there and, came peace.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure. It’s a group of individuals, adults with intellectual disabilities from Anderson. They are. I guess they’re headed up, if you will, by Kathy Schofield and Tessa Healy. And together this group meets on a daily basis. They attend events, they perform their own events, they have a spring Special Olympics games. It’s a very active group and they’re great spokespersons for Special Olympics.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “So we’re happy to have them as part of the Special Olympics. Family. I believe there are approximately 17 athletes and they participate in tennis and pickleball, bowling and bocce, and they’re just a fun gang, as the name would imply, the Rainbow Gang. So oftentimes you’ll see them arriving in their Rainbow Gang bus, and they just make things more exciting and fun when they’re around.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, Travis, I think I saw and how I got that was, somewhere on Facebook. I think that we’re doing a walk with you. Walk with Travis. And I know they did some funny videos with you, and I saw a couple of moccasin costumes. And again, that was how I knew about the Rainbow Gang, but that was kind of funny.”

Angela Barrett – That was great.

Travis Luthren – “Well, And, Yeah. What? Thank you. And, but, my I. Yeah. What I learned from my coworker. You need to make it fun. You need to make it interesting. Well, because if you don’t, how would it go out in the, in the community?”

Angela Barrett – “That’s right. I agree. Now, let me ask you this for your event that’s coming up, Saluda Shoals, November the 25th. I know that they can sign up. I guess, through you guys. Or is it through Saluda Shoals?”

Anthony Buzzetti – “We would prefer that they sign up through us because we’re trying to create our own Special Olympics group license, not our event. We must mention that this is a strictly running event done by the folks at Saluda Shoals that the Irmo Recreation Commission. But they’ve allowed us to be a partner. And so we’re very excited about that. We’ll have a big presence there.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “At the race last year, we have 77 of Trev’s closest friends, and this year we hope to have as many as 140 or so.”

Travis Luthren – “Yes. That’s correct. And, what he said, my dear friends from the period a times, they, come and walk with me and his, and, and plus, he what touched me, the funding last time that we worked at that event, one of my, Yeah, one my during my school years, my, my at,”

Anthony Buzzetti – “My at,”

Travis Luthren – “I, I at level one and my school, my teacher came out. Oh, nice. And that was so, as borrowing from me and. And so that’s why that, that all the people that, that came out, they share me on and that’s what it’s all about, is to have people, to come and walk to, and to enjoy the Christmas night and people that has been poor me through, through the beginning, through, every age that I was by then.”

Travis Luthren – “And, and they are and walk with me.”

Angela Barrett – “That is great. So that’s what I was going to ask you. So if you sign up through, you guys, for the wall to wall with Travis, do you physically do I physically get to go? And what will drive us? I mean, is that what we do need?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes, dear.”

Anthony Buzzetti – Is if you can keep up with it.

Angela Barrett – “Well, now, that might be a problem.”

Travis Luthren –

Anthony Buzzetti – “His promise to better his personal best time from last year. So just be aware, he may be motoring his way along. So keeping up with him may not be.”

Angela Barrett – “So it’s A5K, right. And so you’re going to.”

Anthony Buzzetti – Walk only 4.2 miles.

Angela Barrett – Oh okay.

Anthony Buzzetti – “So it’s a little bit longer than a five right. But it doesn’t seem quite so long because of course you’re walking among the Christmas lights here with friends. And oh if it’s not raining, it could be a very funny name.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Try some steps. Do you try to get to a day? What’s your goal?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, my main goal is 10,000 steps per day. Nice.”

Angela Barrett – And do you make that every day?

Travis Luthren – That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “Nice, nice. Yeah, I tried that one time. I switched to a regular watch. Now, there’ve been no, no special, bells and whistles. Now, Charles, are you planning to go, participate in the Olympics again?”

Travis Luthren – “And, that is correct. If I get picked to go to the, training to the next games. But you have to get picked. Sure. I’m ready to go.”

Angela Barrett – “Sure, absolutely. Well, I’ll look forward to, watching for that upcoming news when it’s time to do that. Guys, I thank you. So very much for being with me today. This has been very special. I have wanted to talk with somebody for a while now from the Special Olympics, and I’m so glad it was you guys.”

Angela Barrett – Thank you so much.

Travis Luthren – Amna I’m right. Yeah. Well thank you very much. They were doing this. And it does have a great. Always chasing that very dear to my heart forever and ever.

Angela Barrett – Well thank you. And I got one last question from us why they call you Mad Dog.

Travis Luthren – “Use has hit a soft spot. Is the, well played? Is that, If they defend, that takes me to, But, team bag weekend, I’m a big high that, I’m a big, high Davidson fan. And I got that, that nickname Mad Dog. My bite is worse than my bank. So when I get mad in my self, I tend to, my way.”

Travis Luthren – “Head temper. Well, be my background. History. Most read has have a lot of temperament. And that’s what goes down in my family history.”

Angela Barrett – “That is funny. Well, that’s a funny story. And thanks so much.”