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Show Guardian of Your Community News b Sentinel WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010 • A7 American Legion holds annual celebration Namon Bills EDITOR On Wednesday, March 10, American Legion Post 68 held their annual birthday celebration at the Veterans Memorial Building. The evening included dinner, courtesy of the American Legion Auxiliary and Mike Nielsen of Mike's One Man Band. Entertainment, was provided by the Tuckett Brothers Barbershop Quartet featuring local brothers Randy, Roger, Paul and Dave Tuckett. Post 68 also took the occasion to present the American Legion Medal of Merit and Citation of Meritorious Conduct to two of their own — twin brothers Cleve and Clyde Swenson. The Swenson twins were born in Spanish Fork and grew up on a cattle ranch. They grew up herding cattle and developed a love for the outdoors. After graduating from Spanish Fork High School, they enlisted with the U.S. Army in September 1944. They served in New Guinea and the Philippines doing reconnaissance and intelligence work. Clyde was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star. Cleve was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After the conclusion of the war, the Swensons were part of the occupational force in Japan. During that time, they were assigned to the 11th Airborne Division and both completed airborne training. They were released from active duty in November 1946. Following the war, the brothers attended Brigham Young University and then earned master's degrees from New York University's Sterns School of Business. Clyde worked for J.C. Penny and US Steel, and was head accountant for Spanish Fork City. Cleve worked for Nebo School District in special education. Clyde married Marlene Snell in 1946, and they had three children. Marlene passed away in 2001. In 2005 Clyde married Barbara Brown. Cleve married Helen Anderson in 1947 and they had seven children. Helen passed away in 1976. Clyde has served for 44 years and Cleve for 34 years with Post 68. The Swenson brothers have participated in countless honor guards over the years as part of military rites for deceased veterans. Also honored that evening with certificates of appreciation were Mike Nielsen of Mike's One Man Band for his ongoing help in providing food for the organization, and The Sentinel for coverage given and dedication shown to Post 68 over the past four years. Namon Bills / The Sentinel HONOREES: Pictured, left to right, are Cleve Swenson, Clyde Swenson, Glen Bradford, John Williams and Steve Stone. APPRECIATION: Receiving a certificate of appreciation was Mike Nielsen, pictured with Glen Bradford, Steve Stone and John Williams. Black Hawk holds first annual recognition banquet Christy Hardman STAFF W R I T E R The Black Hawk District held their annual recognition banquet on March 11, 2010 in the Salem West Stake Center. The speaker was President Adrian Ochoa, second counselor in the General Young Men's Presidency. "We have a great appreciation for what you do," he said. He told the scout leaders the goal was to help the boys become great men through love and service. "The goal of the boys and their parents is to have the boys earn their Eagle, but the path to get there is even more valuable than receiving their Eagle award. It is a wonderful thing to earn that, but it is as not as good as the becoming," Ochoa said. District commissioner Richard Kimball presented Brad Gordon and Christiana Nebeker with The Good Turn Daily Award. Kathryn Ricks, the vice chair of the program said the Good Turn Daily Award is the only award that can go to a non-scouter. "We choose someone in the community who emulates the scout motto, 'Do a good turn daily,' someone who goes out of their way to give service to others," Ricks said. Pualani Graham, district advancement chair, presented 114 Certificate of Merit Awards and 38 SecondMiler Awards. Ricks explained that the certificates of merit are chosen from nominees who have served in scouting for at least a year, and the second-miler awards are given to those who have served for a consecutive five years or more, and have dedicated themselves to serving the youth and making their scout programs better. Recipients of the second-miler award must also have received a certificate of merit. The final awards given out were the District Awards of Merit. "It's the highest award a district can present," Ricks said. "Anything higher than that is a national award." Ricks explained that scouting districts are allowed only a certain number of District Merit Awards according to the number of units in their district. The "The goal of the boys and their parents is to have the boys earn their Eagle, but the path to get there is even more valuable than receiving their Eagle award." Steve Hardman / TIw Sentinel KEYNOTE: President Adrian Ochoa told scout leaders that the goal of scouting is to help the boys become great men through love and service. - Adrian Ochoa Young Men's Presidency size of the Black Hawk District allows them nine awards. They went to the following: Cindi Ellis, Robert Davidson, Mark Cowley, Marte McKee, Curtis Dye, David Ludlow, Rock Permann, Joan Mills and Beth Bartholomew. This was the first annual awards banquet for Black Hawk District since they were established in August 2009. MERIT: Pictured above are some of the 114 Certificate of Merit recipients. |