VFW honors Patriot’s Pen winners
Eighth graders describe how America inspires them
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Micah Larson, center, of Fort Dodge, received the first place award in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliary, and Roger Simonson, adjutant of the post, presented him with a $100 check and a certificate Wednesday night.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Mya Zdrazil, center, took second place in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. She was congratulated Wednesday evening by Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliary, and Roger Simonson, the adjutant of the post.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Kaylee King, center, wrote an essay that earned her third place honors in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. She received a check and certificate from Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliiary, and Roger Simonson, adjutant of the post.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Micah Larson, center, of Fort Dodge, received the first place award in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliary, and Roger Simonson, adjutant of the post, presented him with a $100 check and a certificate Wednesday night.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Mya Zdrazil, center, took second place in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. She was congratulated Wednesday evening by Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliary, and Roger Simonson, the adjutant of the post.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea <br> Kaylee King, center, wrote an essay that earned her third place honors in the Patriot’s Pen competition held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856. She received a check and certificate from Pam Kenemer, president of the VFW post’s auxiliiary, and Roger Simonson, adjutant of the post.
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Three Fort Dodge eighth graders who wrote about how they are inspired by America were honored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1856 Wednesday evening.
Micah Larson won first place in the local Patriot's Pen competition.
Mya Zdrazil placed second and Kaylee King took the third place honors.
They are students at Community Christian School.
All three wrote an essay which answered the question, "How are you inspired by America?"
Resilience and determination were the themes of Larson's essay.
He acknowledged using ChatGTP to research some ideas, but said his parents were the real inspiration for his essay. His parents, Brent and Chrissy Larson, are both Air Force veterans. He said they taught him that America is great. They also taught him about the freedoms that Americans enjoy.
Larson said that after he decided what he wanted to write about, he spent about 12 hours over the course of a month writing and revising it.
Zdrazil said she spent a lot of time thinking about possible answers to the question "How are you inspired by America?"
"I was thinking there are many ways people can be inspired by America," she said.
She eventually zeroed in on the freedoms that Americans enjoy. Her essay was specifically about freedom of religion and freedom of choice. She said she spent about a month working on it.
King focused on freedom of religion in her essay.
As the first place winner, Larson received $100 and a certificate. He will now advance to a district level Patriot's Pen competition that will include entries from 10 VFW posts in north central Iowa.
The winner of the district competition will advance to the state competition. The winner of the state competition will advance to the national level and will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Zdrazil received $50 and a certificate.
King received $25 and a certificate.