LA SOUTH GATE WFWP REPRESENTATIVE CROWNED AS AZALEA QUEEN!

The city of South Gate, California has a long-standing tradition of honoring respected senior members for their service to the community. Each year the city council selects one man as Grand Marshal and one woman as the Azalea Queen; those chosen are more than 60 years old and have a history of many years of volunteer work. The tradition goes all the way back to 1965, when the city was named the Azalea City and started the annual Azalea Festival with parades and other activities for citizens. Having grown up in South Gate, I understood the value of this tradition, and it was a great honor and privilege for me to be chosen as the Azalea Queen this year.

Even though it was a rainy day in sunny California, many people came to the South Gate Auditorium on March 2nd to congratulate us. The man honored as Grand Marshal was former councilman Gil Huertado, who spent countless volunteer hours coaching basketball and baseball to the youth of our community over the last 25 years. A representative from the congresswoman’s office came to present both of us with Certificates of Congressional Recognition. This was a big surprise!

One of the reasons that I was selected was because of my history of volunteer activities. Over the last 30 years, I served the community in various ways, as Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president, promoting National Parents’ Day, and carrying out Marriage Rededication Ceremonies during the 1990’s.

I was also a member of the Optimist Club and for the last decade have served as a member of the South Gate Women’s Club, which celebrated their 100th Anniversary this year in conjunction with the Azalea Festival. Moreover, I was recognized for the annual Bridge of Peace ceremonies I organized in my capacity as a Women’s Federation for World Peace representative in South Gate.

All these activities and projects have been my great pleasure and honor. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do all these things in my life and I am grateful for my family and friends for their love and support.

Being crowned as Azalea Queen is only the beginning. The reign of queen is one year and involves attending many city events like State of the City, ribbon cuttings of new businesses and being on the float at the Christmas Parade. I see it as an amazing opportunity to reach out to more and more people.