| Huntington Elementary students have refreshments at the Lions Park dedication. |
Huntington Mayor Jackie Wilson welcomed Huntington Elementary students and dignitaries to the dedication ceremony for the new Lions Park in Huntington. She said, ” I want to welcome everyone to this dedication of this beautiful park. I also want to tell you students that this is your park and it is a special place. I want all of you to help keep it clean and take care of it. Thanks to the Lions Club, the Huntington City Council and all of the residents for this great park.”
Sally Walls, of the Lions Club said, “The Huntington Lions Club works to help the community. We work to buy glasses for children, we work to support the Cancer Society, and we work to help people with their medical bills and money for gas so they can get to the hospitals where they can get their treatments. Most of the ones we have helped were terminal patients, and maybe, with the help we have given them gave them a few more months with their loved ones or even another day would be worth the work and effort we put forth to help them.
“But all the work we do to put on a benefit to raise money to help someone in need, requires the support of the whole community to be a success. Just like the pennies for cancer jars the Lions Club has set out in the businesses of Emery County, this money comes from everyone in Emery County to help Emery County. We have been able to issue a check for $1,000 for the past few years thanks to all the people in the county who have donated. This year we did not meet meet our goal of $1,000 due to someone stealing our jars from some of the businesses. But, we did issue a check for $600 this year.
“The Lions have projects throughout the year to earn money to operate the club and to have money to put on benefits, buy glasses, or to donate to needy causes, and without the community coming out to support our projects, we are limited in the help we can give.
“The Huntington Lions Club has worked hard on every project it has done for this community and after each benefit, no matter how tired we are or how bad your body aches from being on your feet all day runner here or there getting things done, you feel good about what we have accomplished in being able to help someone in need. After all is said and done that is what life is all about, giving of yourself and helping others, no matter who it might be,” said Walls.
Walls then presented awards to Fay Roper and Rex B. Johnson, as the last of the original Charter members. Roper told the school children about the history of the Lions Club and some of the projects through the years. Johnson spoke about the Lions Club being a service organization. He stressed the need to be of service to others.
Huntington Elementary student Kamrie Simmons, Mayor Wilson and Roper then cut the ribbon to open the park. The ceremony included releasing balloons and refreshments in the pavilion.