Well-deserved honor doesn't come easily in the High Country -- the terrain, resources and logistics of our mountain communities have always demanded that honor be earned, not given.
Thursday, it was the pleasure of the staff of All About Women magazine and Mountain Times Publications to bestow such distinction on five High Country Women of the Year, chosen from among multiple nominations in several categories.
Each of these winners, as Rep. Virginia Foxx said while assisting with award presentations, serves as an "unsung hero" -- deliberately and without expectation of recognition living a life of service to others.
And so, we join in celebrating the work of Randy Brown of West Jefferson for Service to the High Country as director of Camp New Hope, of Alice Denton of Boone for her Business and Professional Leadership as exemplified by her efforts in mentoring young business leaders, of Stacy Cox of West Jefferson for her Advocacy for Women by aiding victims of domestic abuse, and of sisters Sandra Hagler and Roberta Jackson of Boone for their efforts in Preserving Mountain Heritage by resurrecting Boone's noble Junaluska community.
Unsung heroes, certainly. Role models, definitely. An inspiration, without question.
The roots of honor run deep in the High Country, and we are all honored through the recognition of such fine and vital examples of community service.
