A Tree Grows In Flushing For Wendys Victims

It was a day of contrasting emotions last Monday in downtown Flushing. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was being greeted by crowds of wildly enthusiastic Asian-Americans at the Flushing library, further down on Main Street families and friends of the seven people gunned down at the Flushing Wendys gathered to mourn the victims  and plant a tree in their memory.
The memorial ceremony was held at the Queens Botanical Gardens and was attended by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Wendys founder Dave Thomas. "I dont know what to say. Im just so sorry that this happened. We lost our family, too," Thomas told the crowd, most of whom were still overcome with grief over the deaths of five workers who were fatally shot at a robbery at the Main Street Wendys last May. One of the two survivors of the massacre, JaQuione Johnson, attended the ceremony.
The ceremony site was located just a half-mile from the now shattered restaurant where the neighborhood slaughter occurred. Thomas said that the fast food store would not re-open out of respect for the families of the victims.
Giuliani said that the memorial service was a way to rededicate the citys efforts to reduce crime. The mayor praised the police for the swift arrests of the murderers. The victims, all employees at the Wendys, were herded into the basement freezer by the suspects, John Taylor and Craig Godineaux. They covered the workers heads with plastic bags, bound their hands with duct tape and shot each victim in the head. Five of the workers were killed: Jean Auguste (the stores manager), Ibadet Ali, Anita Smith, Jeremy Mele and Ramon Nazario. Two of the workers survived the massacre but were seriously injured, JaQuione Johnson and Patrick Castro. "Im really feeling okay and I thank God for the people who prayed for me," Johnson said after the ceremony. An incredible scar cuts across Johnsons face. He had been hospitalized for three months after the shooting and is still undergoing rehabilitation.
"This was the first time for all the families to meet together," said Augustes younger brother Donald. "It was a great idea to put together. it is one way to begin to get over it," he said. Augustes fianc, Linda Pardo, said "This is just so final. Its like hes now gone. Id give anything to get him back," she said with tears streaming down her face.
The tears flowed among most of the relatives after the ceremony as they took turns holding a watering can which they used to water a newly-planted cherry tree. As they did this, while clutching photos of their loved ones, they said aloud the names of the victims.
Wendys announced that its Employee Relief Fund has raised $142,000 from some 1,400 contributions. The company is matching that amount so each of the seven families will receive more than $40,000.
Several of the relatives said that they hope Queens D.A. Richard Brown will seek the death penalty for Godineaux and Taylor. Brown has until Nov. 24 to decide if he will ask for the death penalty.