Leon FlyingHawk was presented with a Wagner Community Recognition Award on Thursday, August 8th at the 605 Unity Jam’s Sessions by the Lake event held at Wagner Lake. Mayor, Tammy Thornton, presented Leon with this award “for being a guiding light to others.' When asked how he felt about receiving this award, Leon said very surprised. The day of the event, Dana Sanderson kept calling Leon, telling Leon that he needed help setting up for the Sessions by the Lake event. Leon thought it was very unusual that Dana would call him so much in one day, but did not really think very much on it. At a point during the event, Leon was asked to come up to the stage and was presented his recognition award. Leon was not expecting this and had no words to say except for thank you.

Leon is the co-host of the Recovery Warriors podcast, which interviews different individuals weekly who are at different points of their recovery or who have been affected by a loved one who has struggled with addiction. For the last several weeks, Recovery Warriors have been doing a walk through the different housing units in Wagner, Marty, and Lake Andes. He and fellow recovering addicts have been walking through the different communities on Friday evenings letting people know that there is hope and people can change and overcome addition. This week, Recovery Warriors will return to its regularly scheduled podcast on Fridays at 8 p.m. on Facebook or YouTube with their weekly guests.

Leon was also recently asked to speak at a KATCH (Kansas Alliance Tribal Community Health) conference in Kansas on August 12th and 13th. The event was hosted by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. There he spoke to conference attendees about his own personal experiences with addiction and recovery and the work that he is doing in the local communities with Recovery Warriors.

Leon’s own personal mission statement is to keep living. He does not want to lose a second because there is no time to waste as he wants to spend as much time with his family as possible. This award really means a lot to Leon and leaves him still reeling especially after he thinks about where he was 15 years ago. Fifteen years ago, Leon was homeless and in the dark grasp of addiction. He could not be more thankful for where he is today. He never thought he would be in such a healthy, happy place and working a federal job. He definitely gives credit to God, the church, his family, and lastly himself for making this a reality.

One thing that Leon feels is the best way that he can help serve the community is to show up. He wants to follow through on plans, keep his word, and give real, honest answers. He would like to thank Wagner and the surrounding communities for giving him another chance. Leon enjoys being an active member of Wagner and the surrounding communities and wants to be a part of the solution in helping those that want help to overcome their addiction. There are Narcotics Anonymous meetings held every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Lighthouse Church as well as the Recovery Warriors podcast on YouTube and Facebook every Friday at 8 p.m. If anyone needs help, Leon encourages them to reach out to him and he can point them in the right direction to their own path of recovery.

Congratulations Leon on making such an impact in not only the Wagner community, but the surrounding area as well.