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Du Quoin Garden Club wraps up 2021 with merry evening at St. Nick's

The Du Quoin Garden Club gathered at St. Nicholas Brewing Company for its final meeting of 2021 and to celebrate the season with fun, food and fellowship.

Seventeen members were in attendance for the evening. The club enjoyed a delicious meal, an evening of catching up and revealed the Blue Star Marker Challenge awards.

Members traveled ore than 5,350 miles from July to Dec. 1, 2021, visiting numerous Blue Star Markers. It was an exciting adventure to travel, to locate and to actually find Blue Star Markers along the way.

Awards were given for the person who went the farthest for a photo; the person who found and took the most selfies with the markers; the person who traveled the least distance (photo at the Blue Star located inside the Du Quoin Fairgrounds); the member who located a Gold Star Memorial Marker in Kansas; the one who sat on the ground for a selfie with a Blue Star; being the first person to submit photos for the Challenge; being the member who decided at the last moment to join in the fun; the member who kept the others motivated by posting all the photos on the Garden Club Facebook page; and special recognition to the person responsible for the Blue Star Marker Challenge, promoting awareness of what each marker represents and to whom it honors throughout the United States.

Connie Galloway: Farthest distance traveled.

Grace Weinberg: Most photos!

Peg Pursell: Traveling the LEAST distance.

Joey Harsy: Deciding to join the fun at the last minute!

Heide Fiorino: Finding a Gold Star Marker in Kansas at a botanical garden.

Pam Swallers: Sitting on the ground for a selfie photo.

Julie Wilson: Being the first to submit photos.

Jean Bullock: Keeping the group motivated by posting the photos on the Garden Club Facebook page.

Mary Jo Novak: Organizing the Challenge and presenting the awards.

The Du Quoin Garden Club is grateful for its accomplishments and proud of the community that it serves. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Du Quoin Garden Club, and we're looking forward to new adventures in 2022!

Members in attendance at the December meeting are Jane Barwick, Fran Bernhard, Sharon Dollus, Laura Kaesberg, Charlene Bigham, Jean Bullock, Grace Weinberg, Bonnie Wilson, Patricia Gross, Mary Jo Novak, Heide Fiorino, Joey Harsy, Connie Galloway, Pam Swallers, Dixie Travelstead and Peg Pursell. Not pictured: Kristina Benson. Courtesy of Jean Bullock