Liberty Day in Lafayette

Liberty Day was sponsored by the Lafayette Area Lions Club and was a resounding success!! In addition to the 100+ students and the staff, we had about 75 community residents, including Legion, Auxiliary, and Lions members in the audience.

Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau was our guest speaker, with State Rep. Ruth Johnson, Lafayette Mayor Steve Langhoff (a Lions member), Nicollet County Sheriff Dave Lange, and Nicollet County Auditor Bob Bruns as special guests.

The Charter School students took part in the program, with the youngest kids singing the national anthem and a homeroom (all ages of kids) presenting a skit. Another student gave a short reading. The charter school presented a video on what veterans have done for us and also prepared another video that showed photos of Lafayette area veterans. The program closed with everyone singing God Bless American Again.

KEYC (Channel 12) of Mankato sent a photographer and gave us coverage on both the 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. news. Both the New Ulm Journal and Mankato Free Press had front page coverage (each with a color photo). Our own Lafayette Nicollet Ledger also had front (and back) page coverage...of course, with my being editor, that was a given!!!

The event went exceptionally well! I give credit to the charter school staff, and especially lead teacher Sheila Howk, for their work on the program. Thanks also to Duane Jindra and Frank Loreno for assistance in planning and getting supplies. The Lions sponsored the booklets as well as matching red "LCS Liberty Day 2005" for all students and staff.

This was a good example of everyone working together on a very worthwhile project!

Ruth Klossner, Lafayette Area Lions President