Lions host veterans; children join ceremony
Daniela Vazquez
Staff writer
11-17-2016
FOUNTAIN GREEN — The Fountain Green Lions Club hosted veterans of Fountain Green and the surrounding communities at the annual Fountain Green Lions Club veteran’s dinner and program held Nov. 10.
The ceremony was also to award the winners of the local Lions International Peace Poster contest with cash prizes.
The tradition of honoring veterans of Fountain Green, Moroni, Wales and Chester began shortly after the Fountain Green Lions Club was chartered in 1980, and the tradition has since continued.
Approximately 100 veterans, their partners and widows of deceased vets filled the Fountain Green Dance Hall and were honored with a program put on by the Fountain Green Theatre Group, composed of Fountain Green Elementary third- to sixth-graders.
Students sang songs of patriotism and put on a play that demonstrated how and why Nov. 11 became Veterans Day.
After the program, veterans and their families were invited to a traditional turkey dinner, complete with all the sides.
The Lions Club announced the winners of the Lions International Peace Poster contest after the meal. First place went to Azlynn Freeman, daughter of Luke and Tyana Freeman of Moroni. She was awarded $50 for her poster, “A Celebration of Peace.”
Morgan Mitchell and Madolyn Mangum, daughters of Randy and Shandra Mangum of Fountain Green, received $25 and $20 for the second and third place prizes.
Susan Monsen, chair of the Peace Poster contest, says the event sponsors 11-, 12- and 13-year-old students.
Ty Bailey, son of Jed and Tammy Bailey of Fountain Green, was honored with a plaque for his outstanding Eagle Project of 2015. He committed to landscape and maintain the Fountain Green City south entrance sign.
“It is a pleasant welcome to our city (for) all those who come from the south,” said Yvonne Hansen, a member of the Fountain Green Lions Club.
Lynn and Nora Cook, parents of the late Emily Cook Dyches, accepted a $600 check from the Fountain Green Lions Club committee chairperson, Lea Gibson, on behalf of the Emily Effect Foundation.
The Fountain Green Lions Club sponsored a Mental Health Awareness Fun Run as a special centennial project to help the family raise awareness through the Emily Effect. All proceeds went to the Emily Effect Foundation.
At 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 residents lined Fountain Green Main Street to watch students in a parade to honor local vets. Afterward, residents navigated to the cemetery to witness the ringing of the peace bell, followed by a moment of silence at 11:11 a.m.
Fountain Green Lions Club committee says they will continue this annual tradition to honor Veterans in the community, and they say they are grateful to the civic and patriotic individuals and businesses who enabled them to honor the Veterans: Norbest, D & R Farm, Cedar Canyon Ranch, Fountain Green City, Utah Heritage Credit Union, Fountain Green Sportsman Club, Shep’s Grill, Danny Dyches Insurance, attorney Andrew Berry, Beck’s Auto Service and Central Valley Medical Center.
