Pictured are Patriot’s Pen essayists and teachers, from left to right, first row, Hannah Bradish, Katie Plourde, Grace Bradish and Natalie Hanagan, and second row, Julie Esch, Ashleigh Bolduc, Sophie Killam and Marilyn Zotos, Mary Rand.
Patriot’s Pen is a national contest sponsored locally by VFW Post 6545 and Post Commander Ken Kingsley in Kennebunk. Interested sixththrough eighth-grade students write about their interpretation of a provided central theme. This year’s theme was, “What Does Freedom Mean to Me?”
Those from WJHS placing in the contest included eighthgrade student Ashleigh Bolduc who received second place, and seventh-grade student Natalie Hanagan who received third place. Those receiving honorable mention included sixth-grade student Sophie Killam, and eighth-grade students Grace Bradish, Hannah Bradish and Katie Plourde. These young writers are students of teachers Mary Rand, Marilyn Zotos and Julie Esch.
“The essays written this year conveyed a lot of emotion, and the student writers did a nice job of describing the constitutional rights ‘namely freedoms’ that make our country so special,” said Esch. “Many student writers have familial military ties; others are simply grateful for the men and women who protect, help, and safeguard their freedoms, past and present. I love this essay because it helps kids feel connected to something bigger than themselves; the written pieces and the connection they provide is well worth the effort.”
Shortly after the wreath ceremony, the Wreaths Across America convoy departed WJHS on its journey to Arlington, Virginia,with thousands of holiday wreaths to be placed at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery and elsewhere.
According to the VFW website, vfw.org, 125,000 sixththrough eighth-grade students enter the Patriot’s Pen contest each year.
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