Outstanding Youth of the Month OctoberThe Falcon Exchange Club’s Youth of the Month, Cody Pfeifer, is a student at Calhan High School. He maintains a GPA of 3.8 and is involved with National Honor Society, basketball, track and field, Student Council,and Boy Scouts. Cody plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Joe Bauer presented Cody with an engraved plaque and a check for $100. Cody and the other Youth of the Month winnersí essays will be reviewed, and one will be chosen for regional competition. The National Exchange Clubís $10,000 scholarship winner will be announced in July.Sheriffís Deputy of the Year 2015On Oct. 27, Exchange Club President Bob Miller presented an engraved plaque to the club’s El Paso County Sheriffís Office Deputy of the Year, Kevin Sypher. Commander Rob King spoke about Deputy Sypher, citing his many volunteer hours on projects sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department, besides his regular duties. El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder, who could not attend, sent a “Coin of Excellence” to be awarded to Deputy Sypher. This is a special, coveted honor. Deputy Sypher thanked the club for this recognition. Fellow officers attended the meeting to honor Deputy Kevin: Sgt. Karla Schmidt, Deputy Brittany Stubbs, Lt. Cy Gillespie and Deputy Mike Reed.Handing out flagsThe Boy Scouts helped Exchange Club members hand out 2,500 flags at the Veterans Parade Nov. 7. The clubís Americanism program is called ìGiveAKidAFlagToWave,î although adults could get one, too. Roger Wycoff, chairman, thanked Bob Miller, Joe Bauer, Andy Conder, Leonore Misner, Kerry MacIntyre and lots of Cub Scouts, all who helped hand out the flags.Dedicating Freedom Shrine on Veterans DayThe Exchange Club held a dedication for the Freedom Shrine at the Hotel Eleganteí in Colorado Springs Nov. 11.The Freedom Shrine is a permanent display of copies of original historical American documents, representing the sacrifice of thousands of Americans, all in the pursuit of human freedom. It includes Jeffersonís rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, Washingtonís copy of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights; and others, like the handwritten Star Spangle Banner, and Benjamin Franklinís handwritten Epitaph. Only Exchange Clubs are authorized by Congress to install a Freedom Shrine.Key note speaker Ret. Lt. Col. Joseph Bauer explained the establishment of the shrine as ìlooking through windows of time deep into our nationís past.îHotel Eleganteí sponsored this Freedom Shrine, prominently installing the documents on a wall in its lobby. Attendees included the Colorado Army National Guard, Capt. (promotable) Mark Bauer; Marine Staff Sargeant Arthur Delcarmen, Recruiting Station Colorado Springs; the Air Force Rose Gudex 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB; and Navy Delane Stang, YNSN, Ft Carson and several veterans, hotel guests and members of the Exchange Club.The Exchange Club president, Bob Miller, presented the dedication plaque to Ed Okzath, manager of Hotel Eleganteí.
