Justin Latimer as been a member of Special Olympics New York for several years, participating in golf, bocce, bowling and most recently floor hockey. He was presented on Friday with the Athlete Spirit Award for his involvement in the organization.

Every day Justin Latimer and his mom take turns singing lines from “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers. The lyrics are simple and joyful, with its iconic message clear: “Every little thing is gonna be alright.”

It was that song that blasted from the radio following his graduation ceremony at Chautauqua Lake Central School in 2019. “I sing mine and then you finish it,” Justin said of the lines during a recent interview with his mom, Brenda Latimer, a teacher at Jamestown Public Schools.

The song has become somewhat of a motto for Justin, a multi-sport participant in Special Olympics New York and frequent volunteer at a handful of Mayville organizations. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt to many of his endeavors, but his love of sports — especially the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres — remain strong.

Graduating from high school, a place he felt at home with friends and a stable environment, was the source of fear and trepidation.

“When leaving CLCS, Justin was very scared to leave the place he was so comfortable in, had friends, and was familiar to him,” Brenda Latimer said.

Justin soon confirmed, as Marley noted, “Every little thing is gonna be alright.”

For Justin, who frequently volunteers at the Mayville Food Pantry and daycare center at Chautauqua Lake Central School, his love for sports is evident. For the past eight years he has taken part in Special Olympics New York, competing in golf, bocce, bowling and most recently floor hockey. The floor hockey team, according to Brenda Latimer, was started because of Justin’s passion for the game and his desire to play more sports.

He also has taken part in local and international torch runs for the Special Olympics, teaming up with local police. The Law Enforcement Torch Run was born in 1981 when a police chief in Wichita, Kansas, sought to get police officers more active in the community and support Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, members of law enforcement and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into opening ceremonies of local competitions.

According to the Special Olympics, there are more than 97,000 law enforcement members that carry the “Flame of Hope” each year. It symbolizes “courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe,” the organization said.

Justin has taken part in several torch runs, forming a special bond with Capt. Robert Samuelson of the Jamestown Police Department. “I like spending time with him,” Justin said of Samuelson.

Brenda Latimer said when Justin badly sprained his ankle the week before an international torch run in Niagara Falls, his only question to the doctor was: “Will I be able to run in the torch run?” The answer, unfortunately, was no.

Instead, Samuelson pushed Justin in a wheelchair during that year’s event.

“Justin’s love for sports, law enforcement, and people in general is amazing to watch,” Brenda Latimer said. “He has made many friends through Special Olympics, law enforcement, and sports.”

His participation in torch runs earned him a nomination this year for the LETR International Executive Council Athlete Award. Casey Vattimo of Special Olympics said the award was created to recognize outstanding athletes who have contributed to the success of the torch run at the local, state or national level.

“Justin is not only involved with his training club, he is also active in fundraisers such as the Applebee’s Law & Order event where local law enforcement officers team up with Special Olympic athletes to raise money at area Applebee’s restaurants across the state,” Vattimo said. “He is also actively involved with several Law Enforcement Torch Runs throughout Western New York, including Jamestown, which is near his hometown, as well as the International Torch Run over the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls.”

He was nominated for the award this year by Samuelson, who noted that he has befriended several athletes through Special Olympics New York. He met Justin at the Applebee’s fundraiser several years ago.

“Since that time I have had the pleasure to run with Justin at multiple Special Olympic Torch Runs in Jamestown and at the International Torch Run in Niagara Falls,” Samuelson said. “I look forward to continuing to participate in events with Justin and other athletes who all continue to inspire each and every one of us every day.”

On Friday, a day before his 23rd birthday, Justin was surprised during a special visit to the Jamestown Police Department. He was presented with the Athlete Spirit Award by Erica Raepple, director of development for Special Olympics New York.

“We wanted to recognize an athlete that embodies the spirit of Special Olympics and the spirit of the Law Enforcement Torch Run,” Raepple said. “Justin is very involved, especially in the Jamestown area. He comes out for the torch runs every single year and he trains for them for months on end before we actually have the torch run.”

Justin was also made an honorary member of the police department, receiving a department sweatshirt from the Jamestown Cycle Shop, a special badge and patches for JPD, the SWAT team and Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force. The items were framed and also included a photo of Justin and Samuelson during a past torch run, a sticker and JPD pin.

Members of the department and SWAT team were at Friday’s event, along with Justin’s brother James, an officer with Jamestown police.

“Justin has put in a lot of time and effort and he is always there and he deserves all of this,” Jamestown police Chief Timothy Jackson said. The police chief also alluded to the work Samuelson has done in the Law Enforcement Torch Runs and with the athletes. “The captain has done an outstanding job with this. He’s done it for several years and he continues to do it. We really appreciate his efforts.”