Leesburg Luminaria royalty crowned Dec. 12

Leesburg Luminaria royalty are crowned Dec. 12 at the Leesburg Library prior to the evening of lights and open houses in the village. In front, from left, are Queen Annabelle Meddock and King Wyatt Evans. Behind them, are Princess Olivia Bobb and Prince Braden Heiser. In the back, are Leesburg Lions representatives: Jeanette Newland, president; Georgia Barber, vice district governor; Jay Carey, district governor; and Raymond Friend, Luminaria coordinator.

Fairfield kindergartner Garrett Davidson enjoys a visit with Santa at the Leesburg Luminaria, Dec. 12.

Leesburg celebrates 19th annual Luminaria

With a winter storm brewing, the lights and open houses in the village of Leesburg warmed the souls and spirits of those who attended the 19th annual Luminaria Dec. 12. 

The sixth grade essay winners were crowned as the evening’s royalty. Their previously written (anonymous) essays had been judged by senior English students who had chosen a first and second place boys’ and girls’ category which directed the selection of the king and queen and the prince and princess.

The royalty were crowned at the Leesburg library. King and queen were Wyatt Evans and Annabelle Meddock, respectively, with prince and princess, Braden Heiser and Olivia Bobb. 

A tractor-drawn antique cart driven by Ken Woleab transported the royalty to the village open houses where they enjoyed a potpourri of treats.

These businesses opened their doors and served a wide variety of Christmas goodies: Kay Simmon’s Insurance, Leesburg Market and Meats, The American Legion, Katie’s Confections, Fat Boys Pizza, Leesburg Federal, along with the library and the post office which hosted a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Churches in the Fairfield area united in a community church service to conclude the evening. The royal court read their essays; the luminaria was dedicated to Clayton McKibben, last year’s prince, who died in an accident this past year; chair of the community center, Tracy Evans, told of shining results of the cooperation that has enabled the new center to benefit food supply needs of residents in the Fairfield School District; children of the Hardins Creek Friends Meeting shared with their bell choir; and ministers of the individual churches helped with congregational leadership.

Despite the winter storm and snowfall that had begun and led to school cancelation the next day, the Lions Club-sponsored Luminaria continued to be a highlight of Leesburg’s Christmas season. From its beginning in 1991, the Lions Club sale of luminarias (candles held with sand in white paper bags) generates funds that enable the distribution of eyeglasses throughout the world—a celebration of light and sight.

The Leesburg Lion’s Club appreciates all the open house hosts and the community participation.

Luminaria

By Wyatt Evans, king

Luminary Sunday is one of my most favorite days of the year. It is a special day for my family and me to go downtown Leesburg and see all of the beautiful lights and Christmas decorations. It reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas town because of all the people walking up and down the street and all the people caroling. The luminary this year means even more because it is dedicated to Clayton McKibben who was last year’s runner-up king.

On this special night my family and I walk around town to see the lights and go around to all of the businesses’ open houses and get free food. At the post office little kids can visit Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas. In the center of town is the town’s Christmas tree.

When you go downtown you can smell the donuts from the bakery and the popcorn the bank gives out. It smells like Christmas because of the pine greenery. You can almost taste all the yummy food and cookies the businesses give out. You can see all the Christmas lights in town including the big Christmas tree with the bright star you can see miles away. You can feel the prickles on the pine tree and the cold winter air. You can also feel the excitement of Christmas.

The Lion’s Club started Luminary Sunday a long time ago as a fund raiser by selling the kits to make money to buy glasses for the poor kids. The Lion’s Club tradition still carries on today.

Luminary Sunday to me is a time for family, fellowship and fun. Also, it is a time to meet and greet the new people of Leesburg. And Christmas is right around the corner.

***

What Luminaria Sunday means to me

By Annabelle Meddock, queen

The luminaries have always meant a lot to me. It’s a day when all Leesburgians, young and old, are gathered together in one big celebration.

The luminaries are paper lanterns with sand to keep a candle in place. The candle is then lit and the light shines trough. The sidewalks are lined with hundreds of them. Luminary Sunday is when the villagers come together to celebrate peace and love.

The Lion’s club has been a big help to not only Leesburg, but to many towns and villages by building recreational areas, such as parks. They also assist in times of great need by providing health checks. The Lion’s Club gives out scholarships to those who can’t afford to go to college.

The dim glow of paper lanterns illuminates the whole town. Little fluffy crystals of snow drift ever so slowly down. As the friendly villagers run about, I smell the hot dogs, the cookies and the other snacks. The flakes of snow lightly brush my skin, giving me goose bumps.

This Sunday fills me with hope, cheer and joy. But this year it also fills me with great gratitude and honor. To me, the lanterns represent innocence, youth and love. It also shows the tight friendship  all of us share and cherish.

***

Luminary Sunday

By Braden Heiser, prince

If you haven’t been to Luminary Sunday then don’t miss it this year, and I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t. Luminaries are plastic bags with sand and candles in them. Luminary Sunday is about raising money to help the world. It is also about making children, teens, parents, and everyone happy. Luminary Sunday makes the world a better place. For Luminary Sunday there is a prince, princess, king and queen. Only sixth graders can become one.

I like the Lion’s club because they help many people. The Lions Club does the Eddie Eyeglass program for the 2nd graders. They have food donations given to the homeless shelter. The Lion’s Club sends volunteers to Kamp Dovetail and so much more.

On Luminary Sunday everything looks amazing. The streets are lit with just luminaries. The streets smell like candles. Luminary Sunday makes you feel like you’re in a different world and everything tastes so sweet.

When I am on the streets during Luminary Sunday I feel like I’m in a world of peace and quiet. Luminary Sunday makes me happy since it makes the world even better. Luminary Sunday has been going on for 19 years (1991).

This is a poem I wrote:    

Lion’s Club, Lion’s Club 

What do they do?

Lion’s Club, Lion’s club

They help you.

***

Luminaria

By Olivia Bobb, princess

On Luminary Sunday the town is lit up like fireflies. The paper bags sparkle the town of Leesburg. When people drive and walk around to see the sights they realize what a beautiful event this really is. Not just the amazing lights but how the money goes to the people who really do need what the Lion’s club is doing.

Luminary Sunday really does make you feel good inside. When you walk the streets of Leesburg and see all the lights twinkling, and the people passing out candy to little kids, you just feel really good inside. I guess this is why people put so much effort into doing something that seems so small, and I guess this is why I love Luminary Sunday so much.

By NELLDA FRIEND

With a winter storm brewing, the lights and open houses in the village of Leesburg warmed the souls and spirits of those who attended the 19th annual Luminaria Dec. 12. 

The sixth grade essay winners were crowned as the evening’s royalty. Their previously written (anonymous) essays had been judged by senior English students who had chosen a first and second place boys’ and girls’ category which directed the selection of the king and queen and the prince and princess.

The royalty were crowned at the Leesburg library. King and queen were Wyatt Evans and Annabelle Meddock, respectively, with prince and princess, Braden Heiser and Olivia Bobb. 

A tractor-drawn antique cart driven by Ken Woleab transported the royalty to the village open houses where they enjoyed a potpourri of treats.

These businesses opened their doors and served a wide variety of Christmas goodies: Kay Simmon’s Insurance, Leesburg Market and Meats, The American Legion, Katie’s Confections, Fat Boys Pizza, Leesburg Federal, along with the library and the post office which hosted a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Churches in the Fairfield area united in a community church service to conclude the evening. The royal court read their essays; the luminaria was dedicated to Clayton McKibben, last year’s prince, who died in an accident this past year; chair of the community center, Tracy Evans, told of shining results of the cooperation that has enabled the new center to benefit food supply needs of residents in the Fairfield School District; children of the Hardins Creek Friends Meeting shared with their bell choir; and ministers of the individual churches helped with congregational leadership.

Despite the winter storm and snowfall that had begun and led to school cancelation the next day, the Lions Club-sponsored Luminaria continued to be a highlight of Leesburg’s Christmas season. From its beginning in 1991, the Lions Club sale of luminarias (candles held with sand in white paper bags) generates funds that enable the distribution of eyeglasses throughout the world—a celebration of light and sight.

The Leesburg Lion’s Club appreciates all the open house hosts and the community participation.