While most of us will be celebrating Independence Day with a cookout, fireworks and parades, Davis & Elkins College senior and Green Bank native Lakota Jonese will be walking.
As a way to raise awareness about veterans’ needs and to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who served in the military, Jonese plans to leave Elkins July 4 and walk 100 miles to the Summersville Armory.
“It came to me back in the winter when I was volunteering at a Wounded Warrior event,” Jonese said. “I thought, ‘what else can I do to make a difference and bring some attention to what all the military members do for us all,’ and I decided to do a walk.”
As the son, grandson and nephew of veterans, Jonese is president of the Student Veterans Association at D&E and a future marine. Military service runs in his blood and he hopes that, through this walk, that others will feel the same pride in service members that he does.
“I hope for people to see me walking and to see the publicity we have, and they stop to think for a minute about all the freedoms, rights and privileges that they enjoy each and every day,” he said. I hope that the next time they see a veteran of any time period that they would thank them. I hope that they donate to the cause of helping out local veterans in need. Our veterans sacrificed priceless things for all of us and asked for nothing in return. I am asking for anyone to give just a little back to the veterans.”
Jonese is the president of the D&E Criminology Association, the National Society for Leadership and Success, a member of the Sigma Phi Episol fraternity and a resident director. He is the son of David and Cheryl Jonese, of Green Bank.
Donations may be mailed to Student Veterans Association, 100 Campus Drive, Elkins, WV, 26241. All donations will be given to an Elkins veteran in need.
Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com