ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Somaya Naomi Chappelle was saluted by Allentown Parks and Recreation Department’s Summer Playground Program on Monday night.
Moments later, Somaya, 13, returned the salute tenfold.
The reciprocal show of appreciation took place at the 111th annual Romper Day Celebration at J. Birney Crum Stadium.
"I look forward to going there every day. We're lucky."Somaya Naomi Chappelle, 13
At an on-field presentation, Somaya received the Female Percy B. Ruhe Award for achievements in athletics, dance and arts and crafts at Ithaca Playground this summer.
Somaya, a rising eighth-grader and honor roll student at South Mountain Middle School, was extremely complimentary for the opportunities given her and so many others throughout the summer.
“I’m so thankful for what we have at the playgrounds,” Chappelle said. “It’s fun and it’s free. And it gives us kids opportunities to improve not only physically but mentally.
“I looked forward to going there every day. We’re lucky.”
At the Romper Day event, nearly 400 children, ages 7-15, participated in games, running events, coordinated dances, a Maypole dance and skill competitions.
The celebration was the culminating event of the City of Allentown’s free, eight-week summer playground program, which provides children supervised recreational activities and free lunch at playgrounds, elementary schools and other venues throughout the city.
Prior to the Romper Day competitions, the children, all wearing pink T-shirts, were treated to hot dogs, ice pops and water in a grass field adjacent to the stadium.
The food and drinks were donated by the Harry C. Trexler Trust.
'Culmination of the whole summer'
Romper Day was founded in 1914 by Trexler and wife, Mary. Trexler was an American industrialist, businessman and major philanthropist who contributed to the economic development of Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Students blanketed the Crum Stadium field for some two hours. They danced, performed calisthenics, jumped rope and caught football as music blared from the sound system.
For John Hrebik, Allentown playgrounds director, Romper Day never fails to put a smile on his face.
“This is the culmination of the whole summer for these kids,” said Hrebik, who has been directing Romper Day for 38 years. “It’s great to see them having so much fun.”
Allentown Rotary Club has assisted the parks and recreation department on Romper Day since 2004.
Rotarian Assistant Governor Rosaria Stoops said she remembered when she was a student spending the summer at the former Irving Park, now Andre Reed Park, and then participating on Romper Day.
“I was one of those kids at the playground,” Stoops said. “It was so much fun.”
Chase Brown, 12, of Union Terrace playground, was presented the Male Ruhe Award.
Like Somaya, he excelled in many sports and activities at the playground. He will be a seventh-grader at St. John Vianney Regional School in the fall.
The Ruhe Award is named in memory of Percy B. Ruhe, who was tabbed by Trexler to supervise Allentown playgrounds.
