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 Kattie McDonald, left, won first place and Miranda Wanzer second place in VFW Post 2015's “Patriot's Pen Essay Awards.” The girls received the awards from VFW post members at a school assembly on Dec. 20. Photo courtesy of VFW Post 2015.
LAKEPORT – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 presented our annual "Patriot's Pen Essay Awards" at the Performing Arts Center at Clear Lake High School.
It was part of the Terrace Middle School monthly assembly on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 8:30 am.
This year's theme was "Why I Am An American Patriot." We had a total of 48 entries this year, an all-time high.
VFW Post 2015's winners are Kattie McDonald, first place, $150; and Miranda Wanzer, second place, $100. Kattie also won second place and $200 for VFW California District 16.
Patriot's Pen, a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades sixth, seventh and eighth graders the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy. Annually, more than 115,000 students participate in the contest.
Contestants write a 300- to 400-word essay based on an annual patriotic theme. The national first-place winner receives a $10,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. The top national winners each receive a savings bond anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
Historically, the theme (annually chosen by the VFW commander-in-chief) is purposely kept broad in scope to allow the participant flexibility in interpretation to encourage originality. Since the VFW is a patriotic organization, the annual theme always will be related to patriotism.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 thanks all the kids that entered this year and another thank you to teachers Elisa Prather and Rob Alves who between them get so many kids interested in entering. Patriotism is alive and well in the youth of today.
Robert Deppe is senior vice-commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 in Lakeport. Visit the post online at www.vfwpost2015.com.  VFW Post 2015 presents Kattie McDonald with an award at Terrace Middle School on Dec. 20. Photo courtesy of VFW Post 2015. Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)
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