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Left
to right: Patriot Pen Winners Stevi Keen, Ciara Hampsire, Hayley Maher
and in back Patriot Pen Chair Deb
Meyer, Voice of Democracy winners Hanna Barga, Allison Phillippi and
VOD Chair Kim Mantalo.
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VFW Post 7262
Annual banquet
honors vets, members and students
By Bob Robinson
“I would hope that soldiers returning from war would never experience
that again,” said Leon Johnson, VFW Past All American State Commander.
In his opening comments he noted that March 30 was Vietnam Veterans
Appreciation Day, adding that veterans of that era came home to a “less
than perfect world.”
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7262 took an evening recently to
honor the veterans who have served as Post officers, the volunteers who
have served as officers in Boosters and the Auxiliary, and students
addressing the patriotism.
They honored all veterans, noting especially those in the audience who
were Vietnam Veterans.
This year’s Patriot’s Pen theme, an essay contest open to junior high
and high school students, was “What would I tell our founding fathers?”
The winners of the contest were Stevi N. Keen, Mississinawa Valley,
Ciara Hampshire, Mississinawa Valley, Emma Teeter, Mississinawa Valley
and Hayley Maher, St. Marys School. The awards were presented by Deb
Meyer.
This year’s Voice of Democracy theme, a speech also open to junior high
and high school students, was “Is the Constitution still relevant?” The
winners were Hanna L. Barga, Ansonia H.S., and Allison R. Phillippi,
Ansonia H.S. The awards were presented by Kim Manado.
Following the Presentation of Colors by the Greenville High School
NJROTC, students and audience did the Pledge of Allegiance while Pastor
Sam Hoelflich gave the Invocation.
Special recognition was given to James Foutz, the only three time
winner in the Voice of Democracy competition, winning in 1978, 1979 and
1980.
Jim Atchley, Superintendent of Ansonia Local Schools, gave the Keynote
speech and congratulated the students for their honors.
Also honored in the evening banquet were Citizen of the Year Tom
Mowery, Post Member of the Year Don Dietrich, Auxiliary Member of the
Year Arelene Meyers and Booster Member of the Year Deanna Beumi.
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Attendees
in casual conversation prior to the event.
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More
than 100 attendees enjoyed the recent event.
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Post
Commander Scott Reed addresses the audience.
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Greenville
NJROTC posted the Colors.
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Opening
remarks were given by Leon Johnson.
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Attendees
concentrate on the messages of our youth.
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Patriot
Pen winner Stevi Keen
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Patriot
Pen winner Ciara Hampshire
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Patriot
Pen winner Hayley Maher
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Voice
of Democracy winner Hannah Barga
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Voice
of Democracy winner Addison Phillippi
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Three-time
VOD winner James Foutz and Kim Manato
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Supt.
of Ansonia Schools Jim Atchley
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Citizen
of the Year Tom Mowery, Jack Harless
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Post
Member of the Year Don Dietrich, Scott Reed
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Gail
Snyder, Auxiliary Member of the Year Arlene Meyers
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Dave
Cline, Booster Member of the Year Deanna Beomi
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The
Veterans who are no longer with us
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