Patriot's Pen VFW Essay Contest In Region 15

From Region 15: 8th grade students from Memorial Middle School (MMS) in Middlebury and Rochambeau Middle School (RMS) in Southbury participated in the Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest sponsored locally by George Newton VFW Post 1607 in Southbury.

The Patriot’s Pen is a national youth essay contest that encourages students to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Each year more than 125,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen contest. To participate in the contest, eighth grade students wrote essays based on the 2018-19 theme, “Why I Honor the American Flag.” Essays were then judged by members of the VFW on theme development, clarity of ideas, and knowledge of the theme.

The contest consists of four levels, with the entry level sponsored by local VFW Posts. Post winners then advance to the VFW regional level; the first-place winner then advances to the VFW state level. The first-place winner at the VFW State level advances into the VFW National competition.

The following students were first place winners of the local post level at MMS: Aliza Creel, Carolyn Bonomo, Isabella DeLeo, Maille Kimble, Julianna Morris, and Paul Perrotti. The following students were first place winners of the local post level at RMS: Ramyaka Annambhotla, Lauren Grant Emily Hoedl, Grace Kania, Shaylah Lounsbury, Katherine O'Leary, Aiden Nee, and Cole Tepedino.

8th grade history teachers coordinate the program at the two middle schools. Karl Buckley and LeAnn Cassidy coordinate the program at MMS and Cheryl Horton and Lauren Neth coordinate the program at RMS. Teachers use the opportunity to integrate themes of patriotism, service, sacrifice, and freedom into student writing. “The program’s purpose is to foster true patriotism and to put into action the students’ thoughts regarding their responsibility to their country, freedom, and democracy,” said

Larry Williams, Commander of VFW Post 1607.

Image via Region 15 Schools