Sarah York

For Sarah Margaret Ferguson, former member of the British Royal Family, see Sarah, Duchess of York.

Sarah York is an American who became the pen pal of Manuel Noriega, then the de facto ruler of Panama, at age ten. Sarah began correspondence with Noriega after her father suggested on a whim that she should write to him because she liked the general's hat. This correspondence developed to the point where Noriega invited her family to visit him in Panama. Her family agreed to the visit, seeing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In October 1988, York (then 11 years old) and her mother were escorted by a military guard on a tour of Panama. She was interviewed constantly during her visit, becoming the main item on the Panamanian news, and the mayor of Panama City awarded her an honorary key to the city. Upon her return to her home in Negaunee, Michigan, she was praised at first, particularly by her school and community, but soon the story was covered in the national media, where she was derided and ridiculed for befriending an enemy of the United States. Nevertheless, York would visit Panama and Noriega again one year later, in October 1989, just two months before the United States invasion of Panama.[1] Her parents were criticized for allowing her to visit Panama, and for encouraging her friendship with Noriega, then a highly controversial figure.[2]

She has since lived on a self-sufficient farm in remote rural Wisconsin, and was interviewed by the radio show This American Life in 2003.[3] She is also a guitarist in the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers and is a part of the upper midwest Old-time music scene. Her story was used as the basis for a song, "Pineapple Girl" by the indie rock group, Mister Heavenly, on their 2011 album, Out of Love.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Murillo, Luis E. (1995). The Noriega Mess: The Drugs, the Canal, and Why America Invaded. Berkeley, CA: Video-Books. p. 690. ISBN 978-0923444020.
  2. ↑ "Noriega's Surrender—Pen Pal: 'Kinder, Gentler Noriega'". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 5, 1990.
  3. ↑ Glass, Ira (September 12, 2003). "Episode 246: My Pen Pal". This American Life (Podcast). WBEZ-FM, Chicago Public Media. Transcript.
  4. ↑ Curtin, Kevin (August 17, 2011). "Mister Heavenly: 'Out of Love'". Pop Matters. Retrieved December 21, 2014.

Further reading

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