Kosciusko Democrats Awarded At Annual Salute To Service Dinner
Kosciusko Democrats Awarded At Annual Salute To Service Dinner
Posted
Staff Report-
Kosciusko Democrats Awarded At Annual Salute To Service DinnerThe Kosciusko Democrats held their Salute to Service Dinner on April 23 at Noa Noa’s Taharra Room. This was the first Salute to Service dinner since 2019 due to COVID.
Four Salute to Service awards were given out:
• The Dale Tucker Service Award was awarded to Sara McNeal Strahan Lenfestey.
Tucker was a Democrat mayor of Warsaw during the 1970s and was very active in community service.
Lenfestey was very deserving of this award for her passion for making Warsaw and Kosciusko County a better place, according to a news release from the Kosciusko Democrats. She started the Juneteenth celebrations in Kosciusko County. In 2019, she organized the Night of Hope and Healing to highlight the mental health and drug issues facing the community. After that, other groups, including the mayor of Warsaw, organized additional similar events.
Lenfestey serves the community every day in her current job as adult protective services investigator for Marshall and Kosciusko counties. She has a deep passion for helping those with senior and developmental disabilities, the release states. She also serves on the Beaman Home Board and One Warsaw Board and was recently asked to serve on the Board of Count Us In.
• The Opal Miller Service Award was awarded to Tom and Jo Lemon for their long service to the Kosciusko Democrats since 1967.
This award was named after Opal Miller, a longtime Syracuse activist.
The Lemons have supported the Democrats with their time and talents and donations as poll workers, poll watchers, precinct committeeman as well as hosting politicians for gatherings in their home.
• The Volunteer Award was awarded to Suzette Clayton. She has been an active volunteer since 2020, and handles communications.
• The new Trailblazer Award was awarded to Kelly Thompson, for her strong campaign in 2020 for state representative in the former District 22.
The keynote speaker for the evening, was Karlee Macer, former state representative from Speedway.
Second District U.S. representative candidate Paul Steury and new District 22 state representative candidate Dee Moore gave updates on their campaigns.
