"A
man is like a book that can't be judged by its cover;
you
must first open the book to know him."
"A
Wedding Poem"
In
chaos and sadness
Two
souls grew.
Black
winds of challenge flew
against
them...
Yet
they stood strong
Through
all the wrong.
From
wreckage reached deep
Into
their own roots.
Through
prison bars
Thorny
branches grew,
Budded
and blossomed anew.
They
suffered, sacrificed, chose.
Each
soul became a beautiful rose.
Beautiful
Sherri--rose flower woman,
Strong
Al--rose-stem man.
Joined
today in love they twine
In
their own Garden
To
serve mankind.
For
Al and Sherri
Rose
Garden Halfway House
March
31, 1989
By
Cynthia Linzy
The Rose Garden has been in existence since 1982. It started out at 12 South 9th Street in Temple and a month later was moved to its current location at 820 E. Ave A. Since then, we've grown and have accumulated 13 houses clustered together on East Ave A where we recently lost one house to arson.
The name Rose Garden was acquired from the old song "I never promised you a Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson and is what is called "Res-Judicata," a latin word meaning the final decision, the end and/or can go no further. Coming to the Rose Garden means you've exhausted every other avenue of relief or have no where else to go. People who come to the Rose Garden have been rejected just about everywhere else.
Al Slaton, the founder of the Rose Garden, was born in Bokchito, Oklahoma almost 30 miles from the Red River in 1932, the son of an immigrant Irishman and cherokee mother. He was a half-breed born during the time when racial segregation was in full swing and equal rights were unheard of; and during the time Adolf Hitler was running against President Hindenburg in February of 1932 during the Presidential Election.
50 years later the Rose Garden came into existence and Al brought with him the battles he had endured. The concept was noble and that was never questioned. It was the way he handled himself that created many investigations from state and local agencies but, on the other hand, he won many battles and had laws changed for the mentally challenged facing a life of prison when they needed hospitalization.
I started working at the Rose Garden in May of 1988. I was interested in the concept and was impressed with his need to serve a population that was often overlooked. I brought with me my own experiences that began at the age of four when I witnessed firsthand my sister plowed down by a drunk driver that caused severe brain damage. In my childish mind, I swore I would help people if God would save my sister. Nineteen days later my sister came out of the coma and I was convinced there was a God who wasn't mean as I was led to believe. I recall "falling in love" with the two police officers who apprehended the man responsible. They gave me a stuffed turtle that I still have to this day. I mention this because it left a lasting impression on me and shaped who I am today. This happened 35 years ago and I've been involved with mentally challenged individuals ever since that fateful night that changed the lives of my family and has caused me to believe that things happen for a reason. We can either turn it into something positive or something negative. The choice is ours.
I still choose to make every effort humanly possible to help other people no matter who they are or what they've done. It makes no difference to me. Bad things have happened to all of us but you can change the bad into something good towards the benefit of helping someone else who may be experiencing what you've already been through.
Today, considering all that's happened at the Rose Garden with its many investigations and setbacks, I still believe things can be turned around to benefit those who reside there. It's a time of new ideas and new beginnings and to work towards changing the negative image formed over the years. The people are still the same. They are still mentally challenged, needy people who, I truly believe, need our help. I think back to my sister who had to learn how to walk again, talk, feed herself and eventually learned to lead a semi-normal life. She is a miracle that has sustained me through all these years because when I think of my sister I think of the One who saved her and it makes life much easier to bear when faced with struggles and trying to overcome labels placed on all of us; not just the Rose Garden.
I hope you will help me to help the people at the Rose Garden by contributing to this worthy cause and help make their lives more meaningful. The Rose Garden is about them.
Sincerely,
Sherri
Slaton,
Executive
Director