Diane Stamm | Johnson Publications
Chase County’s Olivia Spady performed her Patriot’s Pen essay during Chase County Schools’ Veterans Day program in November.
Diane Stamm | Johnson Publications
Chase County’s Morgan Peterson reads her Voice of Democracy essay during Chase County Schools’ Veterans Day program in November.
John Kershaw | Courtesy photo
Patriot’s Pen winners from Wauneta-Palisade are, from left, Sawyer Vrbas, WP second place; Kenzie Bardsley, WP first place; and Sammara Alfayo, WP third place, with Palisade VFW president Carol Thompson and WP social studies teacher John Kershaw.
Area VFW posts select essay winners; one places first at districts
Every year the VFW receives Patriot’s Pen essays from more than 165,400 sixth through eighth graders.
Each student writes a 300-400 word essay on a theme. This year’s theme was “What Patriotism Means to Me.”
Each town’s post chooses the top three to send onto the district competition
The 4th District includes Imperial, North Platte, McCook Oshkosh, Stapleton, Stratton, Culbertson and Palisade.
Wauneta-Palisade’s Patriots Pen winner is selected by Auxiliary Post #7028 in Palisade. Post president Carol Thompson said she usually asks people who live in Palisade to be judges, but this year asked Michelle Harchelroad and Teresa Wynn to do the honors.
Kenzie Bardsley won the contest. Sawyer Vrbas placed second and Sammara Alfayo was third.
Chase County’s Patriot’s Pen submissions were judged by Imperial’s Auxiliary Post #4688.
Olivia Spady was first. Kendra Kunkel placed second and Ashlyn Heermann was third.
Spady went on to place first in the 4th District. Kunkel was second and Bardsley, third.
None placed at the state level.
Post #4688 also selected winners for Voice of Democracy. Auxiliary President Sue Moore said the post only awarded two places since it didn’t receive many entries.
Morgan Petersen was a repeat winner and Mason Tyerman was awarded second.
Neither placed at the district level.