Lehighton Legion Auxiliary recognizes essay winners
Lehighton American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 recognized winning student essays during their annual awards luncheon. From left, Gladys Balliet, Unit 314 Americanism co-chairwoman; Mariah Eckley, eighth-grade winner; Deborah DeCindio, Unit 314 Auxiliary President; Cole Dietz, fifth-grade winner; and Sandi Gilbert, Unit 314 Americanism co-chairwoman. Not pictured are Isabella Green, fifth-grade winner, and Abigail Hoppes, third-grade winner. DEREK SOLT/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Lehighton American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 recognized last year’s participant in the Keystone Girls State Program in Shippensburg. From left, LaRue Fritz, Unit 314 girls state chairwoman; Taylor Andreas, program participant; and Deborah DeCindio, Unit 314 president.
During their annual memorial service and awards luncheon, Lehighton Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 recognized several Lehighton students.
Unit President Deborah DeCindio announced the winners of their annual essay contest: Mariah Eckley, eighth grade; Cole Dietz, fifth grade; Isabella Green, fifth grade; and Abigail Hoppes, third grade.
Each essay winner received a $25 award and a certificate of recognition.
Eckley and Dietz recited their speeches for the Auxiliary Unit and offered words of thanks for veterans and their sacrifices, as well as addressing homelessness among veterans.
LaRue Fritz, Unit 314 Keystone Girls State chairwoman, also recognized senior Taylor Andreas, the 2018 representative to the state program in Shippensburg last summer.
Andreas spoke of her experiences in the program and told the unit she made a lot of friends and memories while she attended.
The girls state program is a weeklong simulated government learning experience which allows young women to learn about politics, procedures and debate.
Andreas told the auxiliary unit she learned about political campaigns and elections while she attended the program.
