By Natalie Anderson
natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

LEXINGTON — “If Uncle Sam can wear a mask, so can you.”

That’s the message that Kathi and Lennox McLendon of Lexington are sending to their fellow neighbors on High Rock Lake as the winners of the second annual July 4th Holiday dock decorating contest.

Inspired from the idea of Christmas decorating, the High Rock Lake Association has hosted the dock decorating competition for the previous two years as a way to show patriotism when locals are out boating and soaking up the sun.

The McLendons, who have lived on the lake for three years in the Yachtsman’s Point area, donned their dock with a standing, inflatable Uncle Sam as well as a relaxed “Aunt Samantha” and “Sammy,” both in lawn chairs 6 feet apart in face masks and surrounded by red, white and blue. The dock also included a large hand sanitizer and an overhead banner that read, “Stay safe. Stay healthy, America!”

Both Kathi and Lennox urge the community to continue wearing masks, just like Uncle Sam, Aunt Samantha and Sammy.

“We wanted to send a message to wear masks,” Kathi said. She added that despite the lack of fireworks on the lake, the patriotic spirit can still be felt.

Only a handful of lake residents participated this year, but the 2019 competition had 29 contestants. HRLA board members who shepherded the annual event include Barry Childers, Ron Gibson, Rick Monk, Jim Noonan, Joyce Caron-Mercier, Lee Snow and AnnMarie Clark. This year, the vote went to the HRLA community with an online poll.

Last year’s winners were Kris and Randy Hall of Salisbury. They displayed the inaugural “traveling oar award,” an antique wooden oar that will soon have the McLendons name engraved on it, and they’ll be able to display it on their dock for the summer.

Kathi and Lennox also won a $200 cash prize from HRLA along with a $100 gift card to Lexington BBQ.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.