Lilac Festival meaningful

As past royalty of the Lilac Court, I was disappointed in the recent article on the festival. The writer did not get an appropriate representation on what the festival means to its many members. Girls are made well aware of the time commitment before they even go out for court.

This program empowers young women to be leaders with integrity, nobility, grace and love of community. It teaches them responsibility, respect, etiquette and instills an important level of confidence, a lot of things that can be hard to find in today’s youth.

The numbers have dwindled because it’s a lot to go through to potentially not even make court. However, what you learn in the process is invaluable, no matter the outcome. Being on the court was one of the best experiences of my life. My court is still extremely close, 14 years later, and if it weren’t for the festival and it’s Royalty Program, that’s 12 friendships I wouldn’t have today.

Thank you, Spokane Lilac Festival, for what you bring to those young women and the Spokane community.

Adriana Berndt

Spokane