Occoquan’s VFW Post 7916 presented students with awards for the Voice of Democracy essay and speaking contest, and the Patriots’ Pen essay competition.
According to a release, the Voice of Democracy contest, which is geared toward high school students, and the Patriots’ Pen, which is geared toward middle schoolers, has been a tradition for VFW Posts since 1947.
This year’s theme for the Voice of Democracy contest was “My Responsibility to America” and the theme for the Patriots’ Pen contest was “The America I Believe In.”
“This year the competition for both the high schoolers and middle schoolers was keen. The spirit of Americanism was prevalent in all of the essays. Our judges reviewed over fifty entries from schools in the Woodbridge area,” stated VFW Post 7916 Commander Chuck Wilson in a release.
Of the more than 50 entries for the contests, five winners were selected.
The following are the winning students:
Voice of Democracy:
1st Samuel Barge, Home School, 12th Grade,
2nd Angela Gyane, Potomac High School, 12th Grade
Patriots Pen:
1st Allison Metcalf, Benton Middle School, 8th Grade
2nd Ouinlade Aderibigbe, Lakeridge Middle School, 7th Grade
3rd Rebecca Courtney, Lakeridge Middle School, 6th Grade
