Winning the Patriot’s Pen contest at the local VFW level was Abby Burkart, daughter of Lt. Col. James Burkaart and Becky Nasalroad. She also was the winner of District 1 for Kansas VFW.

Second place went to Mackenzie Martin, daughter of Travis and Jessica Martin, and taking third place was Alden Johnson, daughter of Mathew Johnson and Jennifer Eastes.

Honorable mention for the Patriot’s Pen went to Ava Beal, daughter of Elizabeth Beal; Beau Riley, son of Jason and Sheldon Riley; and Addyson O’Hare, daughter of Pat and Samantha O’Hare.

There were more than 250 students who participated in the Patriots Pen essay contest in Tonganoxie.

The Voice of Democracy winner was Abby Clarkson, daughter of Deaven Workman.

Tonganoxie VFW Post 9271 also recognized its teachers of the year.

This year’s teaching wards went to Julie Deason, special education teacher in the Bonner Springs School District and member of VFW; and Deborah Holloway at Tonganoxie Middle School and Mike McClellan at Tonganoxie High School.

Holloway also was District 1 Winner for Kansas VFW.

The Patriot’s Pen winners are Tonganoxie middle school students and Voice of Democracy winner is a Tonganoxie High School student.

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 students in grades 9-12 from across the country enter. This year’s theme for the Voice of Democracy was “Why is the Veteran Important?”

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest.

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. The 2022-23 theme for the Patriot’s Pen was “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”