Memorial Day in Tuxedo

U.S. Army Reserves Col. Russell Vernon, a West Point graduate, presented two students with Sept. 11 Scholarship awards during Memorial Day ceremonies two weeks ago. He is pictured here making the presentation to James Pearson, a student at James F. Baker High School. Pearson was captain of the soccer team, a member of the National Honor Society and has been a volunteer for the last four years with the Ramapo Search and Rescue Squad (he was selected to represent New York as a dog handler at the presidential inauguration). Nina Guinchard, who also received the scholarship, is also a student at James A. Baker High School, where she is a member of National Honor Society, and president of the concert choir. For the last 18 months, she has been a youth mentor and role model for a child in the community needing support.