Cheers From the Veterans Town

So, there was a trunk show at our American Legion for our town's own Miss South Dakota. We gathered, veterans and town folks, to view the dresses that will be worn by our Hot Spring's candidate. We celebrated with a meal and a silent auction, all to raise money to send Autumn Simunek to the Miss America contest in Atlantic City.

How appropriate to join together in sending off our home town candidate at the American Legion. She has always supported our veterans in a veteran's town. We watched her grow up, attending events for veterans, selling poppies on the steps of the post office, visiting veterans at our very special VA. She never refused an invitation that involved our veterans.

She has honored the veterans, and the veterans appreciate and love her. It has been 30 years since a local gal won the Miss South Dakota contest and our town is rejoicing. Whatever happens in the final Miss America pageant, we citizens of Hot Springs will be rooting for our home town candidate. Even many of us who never before watched the contest will be at the TV, cheering on one of our own who we know worked humbly and tirelessly to perfect her talent, poise and appearance, so that one day she could walk down the aisle into Miss America history.