LOS LUNAS—On March 4, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) presented more than $173,000 in scholarships and awards as it named the national winners of its 2023-24 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship essay competitions.
This year’s national winners were announced at the 2024 VFW Washington Conference in Washington, D.C. Also featured during the awards ceremony was the 2024 Patriot’s Pen first-place winner, Bryant Day. Sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its auxiliary located in Mansfield, Ohio, Day was awarded the top Patriot’s Pen award of $5,000. He delivered his winning essay on this year’s theme, “How Are You Inspired by America?”
Isabella Guerrero, center, a junior at First Los Lunas Christian Academy in Los Lunas, was acknowledged as the 2023-24 Voice of Democracy audio essay winner. She was recognized by VFW Post 9676 Commander Chet Pino, left, and Sr. Vice Commander John Tull Jr., right. (Submitted photo)
Locally, in ceremonies on Jan. 10, at VFW Daniel D. Fernandez Post 9676, in Los Lunas, the post recognized it’s 2023-24 Voice of Democracy (VOD) audio essay winner, Isabella Guerrero, a junior at First Los Lunas Christian Academy in Los Lunas. As the Los Lunas winner, Isabella’s essay was then forwarded to VFW District 2, in Albuquerque, where it was again judged, and selected as the competition’s District 2 winner, which made it eligible for the state of New Mexico competition.
Isabella was presented with a certificate, and check for $150, for being the Post 9676 winner, by Post Commander Chet Pino and Sr. Vice Commander John Tull Jr. Isabella was accompanied by her mother Stephanie Guerrero, and her father David Guerrero, at the ceremony.
Avery Gardner, center, a sixth-grader from Eisenhower Middle School in Albuquerque, was recognized at the Jan. 10 ceremony in Los Lunas as the VFW Post 9676 Patriot’s Pen essay winner. Also pictured are VFW Post 9676 Commander Chet Pino, left, and Sr. Vice Commander John Tull Jr., right.
Also recognized at the Jan. 10 ceremony in Los Lunas was the VFW Post 9676 Patriot’s Pen essay winner, Avery Gardner, a sixth-grader from Eisenhower Middle School in Albuquerque. As the Los Lunas winner, Avery’s essay was also forwarded to VFW District 2, in Albuquerque. Avery was also presented with a certificate and check for $150, for being the Post 9676 winner by Post Commander Chet Pino and Sr. Vice Commander John Tull Jr.
Avery was accompanied by her mother, Lindsay Gardner, her father, Ian Gardner, and her younger brother, RJ, at the ceremony.
The 2024-25 VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions will begin again in September 2024. Primary point-of-contact at VFW Daniel D. Fernandez Post 9676, in Los Lunas is Sr. Vice Commander John Tull Jr., 505-249-6104, [email protected].
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April 25, 2024
