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Local Teens Thank Veterans Through Speech Contests

photo by Photos Provided (LtoR: Carolynn La Fountaine, Julia Johnson, Riley Becher, and River Hoffmann) Earning top honors in local divisions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars contests Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy VUMS &, VUHS students used their First Amendment rights to thank veterans for their service and their leadership when they came home.

Tuesday November 4, 2014

The Veterans of Foreign Wars holds two national speech contests that annually have more than a total of 140,000 student entries. Patriot’s Pen, a youth essay contest is open to grades six – eight and encourages the youth to examine patriotism from a modern perspective and write a 300-400 word essay on a selected theme. Annually 100,000 students enter and the 2014-2015 theme was Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans. The local VFW Post #7823 received and chose from the applicant pool four essays as this year’s local winners. Vergennes Middle School Students Carolynn LaFountaine, Riley Becher, Aidan Gardner and Justin McEntee earned the top four spots and Carolynn and Riley’s essays were sent on to the state level.
    The VFW also sponsors Voice of Democracy which is a speech contest for grades 9-12 that encourages teens to write a three to five minute reflection on the assigned topic and record it on a CD. The theme for 2014-2015 was Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future. The local VFW Post #7823 received and selected the top two speeches to represent the area at the state level. Top honors went to VUHS sophomore River Hoffmann and second place to junior Julia Johnson.
    The speeches highlighted the roles of veterans not only as soldiers but as civic leaders who keep an active role in their communities long after the uniforms come off.  Many of the teens through volunteer work at local veteran organizations have become friends with different veterans and wrote in their speeches about how these people are role models and ‘blue prints’ for how to be active citizens. “It is just so vital to understand just how much these men and women do, “remarked Julia Johnson. “When they come home those commitments to county continue through their roles in government, civic leadership and volunteerism.”  Sophomore River Hoffmann summed it up in her speech with her remarks, “We owe them so much more than our thanks. We owe it to them to find a way to be active in our own community and to serve in any way we can.” As Veterans Day nears and people pause to consider what it means not only to those who serve but to those who benefit from their service, listening to the speeches and reading the essays sent to the VFW make one thing clear. America’s youth is aware and appreciative to all those in uniform and all those no longer here. 

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