“Seniors’ Prom,” New Era, Sept. 1990, 33
Everyday Heroes:
Seniors’ Prom
It was not a typical prom night in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For one thing, the prom queen was old enough to be her dance partner’s grandmother.
This was not a traditional prom night in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was September (instead of springtime). The prom was held at the Ossian Health Care Center (instead of a ballroom). The hosts were teenagers (typical), and the guests were elderly and handicapped residents of the care center (not so typical). The chaperones were the children of the guests.
This nontraditional but very special prom was hosted last year by the youth from the Fort Wayne First Ward and Decatur Branch, Fort Wayne Indiana Stake. Turning the dining room at the care center into a “Seniors’ Prom,” they decorated with balloons and crepe paper. They provided dance music, special entertainment, and refreshments. And each guest was presented with a corsage or boutonniere.
A prom is not complete without a royal couple. So a committee of four young people took turns interviewing the guests during the early part of the evening. Later, Ricky Scheumann and Helen Anderson were crowned prom king and queen.
The youth were the dancing partners for those attending from the care center. And even wheelchairs didn’t stop anyone from taking to the dance floor. “It was a wonderful success! We’re looking forward to it next year,” one of the residents exclaimed.
The spirit of this group of young women and men from Fort Wayne, Indiana, can be summed up in the words of one of the youth leaders, Vickie Houseman: “When we are serving others, we feel we are showing love for our Heavenly Father.”
Photography by John Luke and Vanda Fry
Art by James Fedor