Small Town News

A tribute: West Plains teen dedicates Girl Scout project to veterans

---

When MacKenna Jones was brainstorming a project to complete her Silver Award, the second highest award in Girl Scouts, she knew that she wanted to do something a little different.

Most Girl Scouts focus their metal award projects on children, Jones said, but she wanted to honor veterans.

"Older people, veterans, they need to be honored and respected," she said.

Thus "A Tea With Our He roes: A Tribute to All Veterans" was born. Jones, with help from family and friends, worked over the past year to organize the ceremony, which took place Nov. 13 at the Fairchild Air Force Base Chapel Annex. The ceremony included speeches honoring

veterans, poetry, music and refreshments.

"It went really well," she said.

Janes said she spent more than 40 hours preparing for the event; and everyone she contacted foj collaboration was supportive of the idea.

She credited Leslie Fuqua of Spokane County Veterans Serv ices, who is also a friend of her mc ther Carol Jones, as one of the n ajor supporters. Fuqua also served as keynote speakep at the ceremc ny.

"She was onp of the people who helped me a kSt, other than my mom," Jones said.

Also at the ceremony, Ch< mey schools superintendent Larry K eller and school board president L any Haskell unveiled a statue mac e of military boots, a gun and a hel net. The dedication read, "In honor and gratitude to our fallen he roes and MIAs and in recognition (f all veterans, we will not forget."

Many of the 60 people in a) tendance Nov. 13 were veterans vho attend the base chapel with the Jones.' MacKenna Jones said she was greeted with gratitude from many vets as well as a few hug i the next day in church.

The Girl Scouts must app-ove

Jones' project at their annual delegates' meeting in March, but in her mind, the project is already a success.

"It's a lot of work but it was worth it," she said.

Jones is a freshman at Cheney High School. She volunteers as a unified partner in Special Olympics activities and plays flute, piccolo, piano and saxophone. She also plans to join the Navy Sea Cadets, a program for children ages 11-17 that gives them a firsthand experience of life in the military.

"I'm not sure if I want to actually join the military, but I think if I did I would want to join as a band member," she said.

Jones said she plans to work toward a Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts, before she completes high school in 2013.

Becky Thomas can be reached at becku@cheneyfreepress.com.



Copyright 2010 Cheney Free Press, Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cheney Free Press