A 2009 Northwestern Lehigh graduate recently hung up his Army uniform to wear a garb of a different role this past week at the 165th Great Allentown Fair.

Michael Koenig of Germansville, who is serving two years in the Army Reserve, portrayed the fair’s mascot, Moodonna.

“Once or twice at previous fairs I have worn the Moodonna mascot costume,” Koenig said. “This is the first time doing it all week.”

Koenig said he, his brother Matt, and cousins Morgan and Taryn, were all a part of the youth group at the fair from age 12 to 18.

“Once I was too old for the youth group I would help out as the mascot Moodonna,” Koenig said.

“My family in general has always had a big part in the fair,” he said. “My grandmother, Doris Koenig, was vice president for quite a few years and is now the secretary of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society.”

His grandfather Richard Koenig, his parents Rick and Amy, and his aunt and uncle, Greg and Lisa Kemmerer, have all been working at the fair for years.

“They help out at the gates, information booth and with the seating at the concerts, Koenig said. “I always enjoy it [fair] especially when I was younger and even when I was in the Army.

“If I could, I would be sure to make it home during fair week. It is pretty cool some times to see people’s reaction to Moodonna.”

Koenig, who served as an infantryman with the Army 11 Bravo unit from 2011-13 and the 1st Brigade Combat Team and 82nd Airborne Division, 2015-2017, both at Fort Bragg, N.C. plans on joining the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

He also served with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan from 2013-14 and stationed in Vilseck Germany from 2013-15.

Koenig is also working on his degree in criminal justice at Lehigh Carbon Community College.