Last Tuesday evening the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Club held its yearly awards banquet at King’s Restaurant. During the awards banquet, the club recognized its “Citizen of the Year,” “Ruritan of the Year,” and recipient of the “President’s Award.”

In addition, members reviewed the awards the club received at the District Convention as well as the activities that merited those awards. Even though the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Club is not one of the larger clubs in the district, the club received four awards: a Bronze award, a Silver award, and two Gold awards.

Several months ago, the club decided to do a Merry Christmas Raffle as a fund-raiser. The top prize would be a $200 Visa gift card awarded in time for Black Friday shopping. The members also solicited 36 other prizes. The drawing was held after the banquet. Since Joyce Maney, the district’s Lieutenant Governor, was present at the meeting, we asked her to pull the winning tickets.

When we started the process, Ryan Dawson, our “Citizen of the Year” honoree, and his family were still in the room chatting with some Ruritan members. His son Ashton had begged Ryan to let the family stay for the drawing. This 11-year-old had surveyed the table laden with prizes ranging from donated herbicides to lawn chairs to a Playmate cooler, emergency lanterns, tactical flashlights, and gifts cards. He wanted to stay so he could see what he would win.

His dad and mom patiently explained that the drawing would take time and even if his ticket was pulled, no one could guarantee which prize he would receive. Besides, the young fellow had school the next day, so they needed to get home.

But since the drawing began while Ryan and his family were still present, the entire family was in for a surprise. Ashton’s ticket was the first one out. He won the top prize, the $200 Visa Card.

Since most of the people who attended the banquet were engaging in the old Southern tradition of congenial chatting, they were there to witness the changing expressions on the face of that 11-year-old young man. His face shifted from shock and confusion to delight and finally settled in an expression of exhilaration.

What was even more priceless was the dumbfounded look on the faces of his parents. They had tried to prepare him for the disappointment of not winning – or at least, not winning the prize Ashton really wanted.

I am sure since Tuesday evening, Ashton has been mulling over what he will do with his modest windfall. If I am any judge of character, I wager Mom and Dad will have a special Christmas present from their son.

After all, Ashton’s dad had just been honored for his service to his community. In my experience, that type of commitment to the good of others is generational. Ryan is third generation law enforcement. His grandfather and his father each worked with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department.

After all Ruritan members and their guests recovered from a moment that seemed just right, we continued the drawing until the other 36 prizes were awarded. Some of my breakfast buddies are going to learn that they, too, are winners.

But even those who did not win a prize are also winners. They helped our civic club raise money to do even more good in our community. Thanks to each of you who supported the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Merry Christmas Raffle.

Maybe you will be a prize winner next year.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving – and do not forget to be truly thankful. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways.

Mike Parker is a columnist for Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.