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Private honored at Veterans Day ceremony

Fayetteville Observer - 11/16/2019

Nov. 16--HOPE MILLS -- Pvt. Shannon Stokes is just beginning her military career, but she was recognized at a ceremony that honored veterans.

Stokes received the Summit Award Medal at the Hope Mills Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. The award is the highest in Venturing, a Boy Scouts of America program, and is the equivalent of an Eagle Scout.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner presented the award to Stokes, who was a member of Venturing Crew 32 in the town.

Stokes is the 38th female and the 104th Venture scout in the United States to earn the Summit Award. Her project involved building planters at American Legion Post 32, which is on Legion Road in Hope Mills.

After the ceremony, Stokes said she feels honored to receive the award. She said earning the Summit requires the right mindset.

"It's a lot of work," she said. "If you put in a lot of time, you can pretty much do anything."

Stokes is working to become a medical laboratory tech at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. She credited Michele Harling, the crew's adviser, with helping her.

"I don't know where I'd be without her," Stokes said.

Jessie Bellflowers, a past Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American/Triple Crown State Commander for North Carolina, said during the ceremony that Stokes would one day be a veteran.

"We honor her, and we honor her service going forward," he said.

Staff writer Steve DeVane can be reached at sdevane@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3572.

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