Smithtown HS West Junior Wins NY State VFW Contest

SMITHTOWN, NY — Olivia Wolber, a Smithtown HS West junior who won the local VFW Voices of Democracy essay contest in November, just won the contest at the New York State level, the Smithtown School District announced.

Her essay was chosen over 200 other submissions, and she earned a $2,500 scholarship.

Wolber had to write and record a 3- to 5-minute broadcast script on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.3 million in college scholarships and incentives.

This year's theme was "Why is the Veteran Important."

Wolber was honored by Smithtown VFW Post 10870.

Tom Mooney, the communications officer of the Smithtown VFW & American Legion, said Wolber's essay will now be judged on a national level.

An excerpt of Wolber's essay reads:

"They are examples for all to look up to thank and follow. They are educators of love and tolerance. They are reminders to the youth and to the naive why we should rise for our pledge to the flag of a country we get to call our own. They remind us why we put our right hand over our beating hearts during our national anthem. Because it is them who had the whites of their eyes go red from crying their tears of blue in heartbreak watching brothers and sisters fall around them."