A week before Christmas, I was given the honor to welcome back Martha Belaynah and her 7-11 back home to Forest Heights/Oxon Hill. I provided the following remarks: “We are back, and We are unbreakable! My first apartment in 1999 was right across the street, on Marcy Ave in Colonial Village. I used to come to this 7-11 nearly every night after working at Darcars Lincoln Mercury in Marlow Heights. And an interesting commentary on life is that sometimes you grow to appreciate something after it’s gone. That certainly happened to me. I moved back to Oxon Hill in 2020, and when I saw this building destroyed, I was heartbroken and confused. I didn’t know what had happened, and I was concerned if it would ever come back again. And then I read old news reports about the incident, and I was disgusted.
To the person who damaged this building, you can’t damage our spirit
To the person who harmed our neighborhood, you can’t harm our faith
To the person who put a halt on our lives and routine, you can’t stop our resolve for a better community because the citizens of Forest Heights/Oxon Hill and our business community have a bond like no other.
Like family that experiences many trials but the jury has not yet rendered its verdict. It is a family that sees its ups and downs, but more ups than downs. You can’t break our spirit because Prince George’s County and Oxon Hill are on the move, and WE ARE UNBREAKABLE.
And finally, I want to thank our heroes in the Forest Heights Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and our Fire and EMS. Thank you to the late Mayor Mohammad of Forest Heights and current Mayor Washington, Linwood Robinson, and the entire Town of Forest Heights family. Thank you to 7-11 for believing in Oxon Hill/Forest Heights, and a huge thank you to MARTHA BELAYNEH for Keeping Oxon Hill/Forest Heights her home.
We ARE BACK!”
CJ