Student proud to represent vets as Miss Liberty

Winlock student Arianna Penningon speaks as Miss Liberty during a special presentation after the 2014 Lewis County Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.

Winlock High School junior Arianna Pennington has been crowned Miss Liberty by organizers of the Lewis County Veterans Day Parade and says she is looking forward to representing veterans' issues to her generation.

A young woman who has grown up around members of the military, she said it is her goal to help fellow students understand why Veterans Day is important and its intended impact on the community.

"A lot of the youth I know don't take into account Veterans Day," she said. "To them it's just another day off from school."

Pennington, who is the niece of parade organizer April Pennington Farey, said she had been encouraged to seek the position of Miss Liberty, which is being passed on by last year's title bearer, Kaitee Carney. In doing so she was asked to submit an essay explaining what freedom means to her, while issues such as her community service history and abilities to speak in public were also taken into consideration.

In her essay, Pennington said freedom has been defined by the sacrifices others have made for her to live and enjoy life, and that the sacrifices of veterans have ensured such freedoms to those presently living in American and those yet-to-be born.

"To me, freedom is the promise for the future generations to exceed all we have ever been," her essay read, adding, "It is their chance to make a difference not only in our country, but the world."

Pennington was crowned Miss Liberty during a special ceremony Friday night at the Toledo Fire Hall and was later able to ride in Veterans Day Parade on Saturday afternoon. She said it is her intention to share her thoughts on freedom and military service at future speaking engagements with her school, as well as such institutions as the Lewis County Veterans Memorial Museum, in Chehalis.