Recognizing young essay winners

The Ozaukee County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Auxiliary Unit 5373 recognized the winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay and Voice of Democracy contests during a Feb. 26 program at the Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Post Hall in Port Washington. Those recognized included Adalynn Boehle, a sixth-grader at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Port Washington who took first place in the Patriot’s Pen; Liam Stewart, a seventh-grader at St. John XXIII Catholic School who earned honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; Elizabeth Carl, sixth-grader at T.J., honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; Mackenzie Moeschberger, sixth-grader at T.J., second place in Patriot’s Pen; Gretchen Jerome, seventh-grade at St. John XXIII, honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen;  Fiona Didier, seventh-grader at St. John XXIII, honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; Katia Bloedel, 12th grader at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, second place in Voice of Democracy; Josie Smith, eighth-grader at T.J., honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; Kaitlyn Johnson, sixth-grader at T.J., honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; Jaden Laabs, sixth-grader at T.J., third place in Patriot’s Pen; Eden Feld, eighth-grader at T.J., honorable mention in Patriot’s Pen; and Sonya Nikolai, 10th grade at Port Washington High School, first place in Voice of Democracy.         Photo by Sam Arendt