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Published:Sunday | October 21, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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Former Senator Dorothy Lightbourne (centre) with Tessmaria Leon (left) and Joy Roberts.
Mother-daughter duo of Karen (left) and Candice Rochester share the spotlight at the after party for Edmund Bartlett at the Spanish Court Hotel last Monday.
Earl Jarrett (left), head of the Jamaica National Building Society, shares the occasion with Carmen and Ed Bartlett. - Photos by Barbara Ellington
The ever-fabulous Rosa Joseph grabs a photo op with former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
Robert MacMillan (left) is caught in a contemplative mood with Russian Ambassador Vladimir Polenov at the after party for Thalia Lyn, who received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for her contribution to business.
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National Heroes Day is special for Jamaicans who have given of their best to the country and received recognition for the effort. Monday, October 15 was no different. From the pomp and pageantry of the morning at King's House, recipients gathered in their select venues to celebrate with family and friends all afternoon long.

Among them were Island Grill's Thalia Lyn who received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for outstanding service to business and Edmund Bartlett who received the Member of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander for 23 years of distinguished service to Parliament. Mrs Lyn's cosy dim sun was hosted by her children Michael and Denise Lyn, who flew into the island with their children for the proud occasion. It was held at the Lyns residence in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

Bartlett shared his festive occasion with fellow politicians Enid Bennett and J.C. Hutchinson at the swanky Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. Bennett received the Order of Jamaica, Commander Class for outstanding contribution to politics and Hutchinson received the Order of Distinction, Commander Class for more than 20 years of service to Parliament.

A Catholic of strong faith, Mrs Lyn was joined by Monsignor Richard Albert, Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon, Father Garvey, Archbishop Donald Reece, Archbishop Charles Dufour and former prime ministers Edward Seaga and P.J. Patterson, as well as new Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Robert Ready. There were also close family friend Dr Robert 'Bobby' Chen who journeyed from Mandeville for the event and lots of other friends of the Lyns.

The entire afternoon was devoted to lively banter, good food and enough libations to keep everyone in a jovial mood.

Bartlett lauded

Speeches and toasts were the order of the day as each person dispensed kudos upon opposition spokesman on tourism/public administration and appropriations chair, Minister Edmund Bartlett, and his fellow honourees, Enid Bennett and J.C. Hutchinson. But the moment belonged to Bartlett who with precision and accuracy chronicled his journey from all segments of his business and political career up to the present.

Admitting that everyone in the room represented "a continuum from 1976 to 2012", Bartlett named all the mentors and industry stalwarts who had contributed to his success and shared the special relationships with him. "Words are not enough to express my deepest sense of gain for having the family I have," he said. I thank them from the bottom of my heart," he said.