Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge – Pensacola Chapter
Patriotic members of the Pensacola community were recognized at the 2016 Annual Awards Banquet of the Pensacola Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Over two hundred guests, including Pensacola’s Mayor Ashton Hayward, attended the event held at Heritage Hall in Seville Quarter on January 26th..
“The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, founded in 1949, celebrates the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and their relevance to our daily lives. Their goal is to educate and inspire students and their teachers with the words, meaning and emotion that these founding documents convey. The organization utilizes interactive programs that explore our history and debates that focus on Constitutional concepts in this changing world. Each year, the Pensacola Chapter sends high school juniors to participate with the more than 3,000 students from across the country who visit the historic Valley Forge campus to learn about America. The Foundation immerses students in a living history educational experience, that engages them in topics critical to the future of freedom.” (www.freedomsfoundationpensacola.org)
Connie Brown, Vice president of Youth Programs, introduced the six Youth Conference Scholarship winners: Alex Wilson, Ethan-Magnus Redning-Hubbard, David Harrison, Chloe Stibolt, Destiny Lewis, and Dakota Fulton
Adult Community – George Washington Medal
Petty Officer First Class Alexanna C. Williams, USN received the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge National award for her work directing community volunteerism and leadership among the enlisted personnel stationed on board NAS Pensacola. She is also a recent recipient of the Navy League’s Margaret Flowers Award for personal volunteerism.
Captain Lee Little Hansen, USN, (Ret.) dreamed of and developed a class room program to introduce local students to other cultures. Her program, The Global Corner School Passport creates i n-class curriculum that engages students through hands-on activities and discussions to introduce them to other countries and prepares them for a global world and economy. (The Global Corner)
Chief George Burton Dodge, Sr. “White Antelope” received the George Washington Honor Medal for his work as an advocate for Native Americans, Veterans and the local Greek non-profit – AHEPA.
Youth Community – George Washington Honor Metal
Pine Forest High School student, Stefan Pressley was honored for working to collect funds to purchase new shoes for his school track team and emulating the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate students, Tristan Wu, William Langhorne, Ariel Noethlich, and Scott McGaugh developed the BackPackUSA program to give backpacks of food to elementary students for them to eat over the weekend – Sponsored by the Escambia County School District Maintenance Department, the Backpack Project’s primary focus is providing food for disadvantaged children in Escambia County elementary schools in order to alleviate stress in our community and allow these children to focus on their studies to create a solid foundation for their futures. Their secondary objective is to raise awareness of childhood hunger and heighten a sense of unity in our communities through public events and activities.
Public Communications – George Washington Honor Medal
The Pensacola News Journal published a fifteen part World War II Seventieth Anniversary Series written by journalist, Marketta Davis. (Lisa Reese, President/Publisher and Lisa Nellessen-Lara, Executive Editor) “I was in awe talking to these great American Heroes,” said Ms. Davis.
Special Events – George Washington Medal
The Juan Sebastian de Elcano Society hosted the Spanish Naval Training Ship, Juan Sebastian de Elcano visit to Pensacola. Dame Maria Davis and Collier Merrill, co-chairpersons, Fiesta of Five Flags accepted the award.
Heroes Among US monthly programs presented by The Marine Corps League: Corporal J.R. Spears Detachment 066 honoring US Military Veterans.
Educator – George Washington Medal
Lauren Samoszenko, civics teacher at Ransom Middle School, received the National Educator award.
Youth Essay – George Washington Honor Medal
JCDR Cassandra Harrison, NJROTC at Escambia High School received the National Essay Award. The topic for the essay was “Combating Apathy”. As the commander of the junior Reserved Officer Training program at Escambia High school, she had her work cut out for her to keep her cadets motivated.
Youth Essay Certificate
Students, Saraiah Morgan, Christopher Gibson, and Alexander Apin were finalists in the Youth Essay.
Adult Community – Liberty Bell Award
Charles Gould, received the Pensacola Chapter Liberty Bell award for his volunteer work using his private plane in Angel Flights transporting patients and transplant organs in the South East USA.
Artist, Anne Clapsadl, received the Pensacola Chapter Liberty Bell award for her talented contributions creating center pieces for Pensacola Chapter events. Anne’s award was a surprise to her. Family and friends did an outstanding job of keeping a secret.
Public Communications – Liberty Bell Award
Composer, Allen Pote and Dr. Jack Flemming and his wife, Carolyn Fleming received the Pensacola Chapter award for Seaplane An All American Musical. This musical, performed around the country, was recently revised and performed at the Saenger Theater in Pensacola.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Pensacola’s favorite story teller, John Appleyard, was honored with the Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Appleyard has spent many years researching and preserving Pensacola’s historical stories. Born in 1922, this nonagenarian still goes to his office in the John Appleyard Agency every day. An avid historian, he has penned over a dozen books.
“Pensacola at the turn of the century was a very different city from most Southern cities at the time. We had the lumber industry, fishing, the Navy yard. Pensacola was growing like a weed. And you can transpose hardly anything from the past onto [modern times]. So my determination on doing mysteries is that I want people to remember what it was like. That’s why in these short stories, I like to sneak history lessons into each one. So they have a dual purpose — history and mystery,” he said.