Showing their patriotism: VFW recognizes students for essays, art
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The community?s support of these brave men has been phenomenal, both during their deployment and after their return, and playing a big part in that has been local VFW Post 5064. The VFW has always promoted patriotism, in peacetime and at war, and is noted for establishing an essay and art contest to encourage Warren County students, and students around the nation, to voice their feelings about democracy, about their country, and what freedom means to them.
VFW Post 5064 recently held its annual awards banquet to honor the winners of this year?s patriotic essay and art contests, which are sponsored by the members of the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary.
The grade 9-12 contest is called Voice of Democracy and this year?s essay theme was ?How I Demonstrate My Freedom.? The seventh- and eighth-grade contest is called Patriot?s Pen and the theme this year was ?Who are Today?s Patriots?? The Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest was open for students to enter original art with a patriotic theme.
Ladies Auxiliary president Diane Wisniewski says the VFW is proud to sponsor the contests.
?I think it instills patriotism in the students,? Wisniewski said. ?It lets them express their ideas on patriotism, based on the topics we give them each year. It gives them a sense of what our forefathers did for us to make this country free and provide the freedoms we enjoy today, like freedom of speech.?
Wisniewski says the 278th?s deployment in Iraq has brought patriotism to the fore in Warren County.
?It really brought it home to everybody when they got deployed,? Wisniewski said. ?You hear about it away from home, but when it hits Tennessee and hits McMinnville like this, it affects us a lot more.?
The winner in the Voice of Democracy contest was Stephania Colangione, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Colangione. Her essay dealt with the importance of freedom of speech. Stephania received $100, a plaque, and a jacket with the VFW Voice of Democracy logo on the front and an American eagle on the back. Stephania is home schooled.
Overall winner in the Patriot?s Pen contest was Ashley Ashburn, a seventh-grader at Dibrell. Her teacher is Melissa Perkins and her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Gary Ashburn. Ashley received $100, a plaque and commemorative jacket.
Cody Vaughn took second place in this category. Cody is an eighth-grader at Eastside and his teacher is Twanna Bigford. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Vaughn.
Linsley Spain placed third. She is Warren County Middle School eighth-grader and her teacher is Becky Maynard. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Greg Yates.
Fourth place went to Kevin Holland, a Morrison eighth-grader. Kevin?s teacher is Mrs. Prater and his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Stan Holland.
In fifth place was Gabriel Walkup. Gabriel is a Centertown seventh-grader. His teacher is David Graham. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Philip Walkup.
The second through fifth place winners in this contest received $50 and a plaque. Southern Standard executive editor Patricia Zechman judged the essay contest, which included over 140 entries from around the county.
The first place winner in the Young American Patriotic Art Contest was Stephania Colangione, who also won the Voice of Democracy essay contest.
Stephania was awarded $100 for her winning artwork. She is home schooled and has never had any art instruction or classes.
Second place in this category went to Katie Rogers, a tenth-grader at WCHS.
Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Keith Rogers and her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Arlis Rogers, members of VFW Post 5064. She received $50 and a plaque.
The third place winner was Alma Castillo, a tenth-grader at WCHS. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Abel Castillo. Alma was awarded $25 and a plaque.
Teacher Terry Young was recognized for his work with the art contest. The judge was Patsy Webb.
The overall winners in each category will advance to the district contest.