By Harold Brummett

Star Denmark Route

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a ceremony at Regents school. The Commander of the Oxford chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Will Mobley could not make it but Greg Lovelady as Adjutant ran the show along with Dennis Bullard. The occasion was to award the winners of an essay contest prizes for their efforts. 

Their classmates assembled in the gym, and the ceremony began. Ms. Stephanie Young started the program with a few words about what the Veterans of Foreign Wars essay contest was all about then the awards were given.

Ms. Mary Meagher won first place in the Voice of Democracy category at the VFW post level and first place at the VFW District. This effort won Ms. Meagher $250.

Samuel Bryan and Tristan Bryan won second place in the Voice of Democracy category. This prize was $75 each.

First place went to Anna Eddleman and her prompt was Patriots Pen. Anna won first place at the Post in Oxford, first place at the region and first place in the state competition. Anna’s effort netted her a total of $750 in prize money.

As Anna read her composition aloud, the students were attentive and even more so were the veterans. The delivery was smooth and professional and even more importantly, the words were earnest and impactful. Anna’s composition will enter competition at the national level where the prize will be considerably more than at the state.

Later that evening the composition was once again recited at a dinner in honor of the participants. This time even more veterans listened to the words written by Anna. The pride expressed in the congratulations of those veterans highlighted the importance of such competition.

The post honored the work of Haleigh Leach from Bramlett Elementary with VFW Post 3978 Teacher of the Year award. Steadfast and loyal patriot teachers like Ms. Leach lay the cornerstone of patriotic education for our youth.