By the time she reaches school age, community service will be nothing new to Eloise Lamm.
The Harrison resident is the reigning Mini Miss Military Star Pennsylvania, crowned in the category for 2- to 4-year-olds.
Eloise earned the title during an October pageant presented by the Miss Military Star Organization, through which participants volunteer, do charity work and conduct fundraising on behalf of members of the armed forces, past and present. Girls and women in age groups through 25-plus are invited.
So far, among Eloise’s ventures are two Marine Corps Detachment birthday balls, a Thanksgiving lunch in Irwin and a Veterans Recognition Breakfast hosted by state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Peters, and state Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, in the South Hills. At the latter event, she presented flowers to those in attendance, generating plenty of smiles along the way.
“People do love her,” said Liza Lamm, Eloise’s mother.
Liza Lamm learned about the Miss Military Star Organization during a family trip to Erie, where a pageant was taking place.
“We kept seeing girls with crowns, and we decided to pop over to see what was happening,” she said. “They told us this is an organization that serves our veterans and our active service members, and we were all in for that. We support our military.”
Her father, Franklin J. Lamm, was a World War II veteran, as was Eloise’s great-grandfather on the side of her dad, Ted Tomson. Other relatives have served, too.
During Eloise’s turn as Mini Miss Military Star Pennsylvania for 2024-25, she continues to pursue a favorite activity.
“She loves to dance,” her mother said. “She goes to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, second year there now.”
At home, she particularly enjoys watching reruns of the music-oriented TV series “Glee.”
“She will try to mimic when they dance,” Liza Lamm said. “It’s the cutest thing.”
Beyond Eloise’s military-oriented commitment, her mother seeks further opportunities for her to serve.
“I’m willing to have her volunteer anywhere. I’d be by her side, and I would be supporting her and guiding her,” Lamm said. “If she needs to clean tables or set anything up or whatever it is, I will help with that.”
At Eloise’s age, all the hustle and bustle may tend to tucker her out after a while.
“But we are willing to travel,” Lamm said, “and she can nap on the way back.”
For information about having Eloise volunteer as Mini Miss Military Star Pennsylvania, contact Liza Lamm at eliiiza@icloud.com.