Fairview student wins Voice of Democracy essay contest
MOORE — Patriotism was the keyword as judges listened to the speeches of 11 state finalists in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy oral essay contest. This year’s theme was “My Responsibility to America.”
Mike Devenitch, the VFW’s Voice of Democracy state chairman, said the state winner was William Church, a senior at Fairview High School. Second place went to Hope McBride, of Oklahoma City, a homeschooled 12th-grader.
Tied for third place were Andrew Dayhoff, of Fort Sill, a junior at Lawton High School; and Aunika Anderson, a senior at Spiro High School.
The other rankings were: fourth place, Evan Shaw, of Sapalpa, a junior at Eagle Point Christian Academy; fifth place, Clayton Ulm, a junior at Walters High School; sixth place, Drake Erickson, of Checotah, a junior at Eufaula High School; seven place, Bridger Smith, a junior at Harrah High School; eighth place, Kaylee Aber, a sophomore at Skiatook High School; ninth place, Remington Ward, a sophomore at Locust Grove High School; and 10th place, Summer Moffitt, of Hugo, a junior at Fort Towson High School.
In his first-place speech, Church said, “True patriotism goes beyond fireworks.” Like many of the contestants, Church said his responsibility to the United States includes being “willing to serve my country.” He said his interest in government began at his grandparents’ dinner table, listening to political discussions.
During her speech, McBride said it is the responsibility of people to be in “constant engagement in the culture ... and not just show up at the ballot box.”
Church will be honored during the VFW’s conference Feb. 10-12 in Claremore. The awards banquet will be Feb. 11 at the Holiday Inn Express, Devenitch said.
The state winner will go to the national level for a chance to win a $30,000 college scholarship, and a trip to Washington, D.C., and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Devenitch said 40,000 ninth- through 12-graders took part in the essay contest, including 600 to 1,000 Oklahoma students. More than 2,000 junior high students in Oklahoma entered the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest
The national organization awards more than $2 million in scholarships every year through its essay contest.
Many of the Oklahoma students in the Jan. 7 judging have had relatives in the U.S. military. Judges heard Moffitt talk about her grandfather and father being U.S. Navy veterans and her brother, an Army veteran who served in Iraq.
The idea of choosing not to stand during the national anthem was not popular among the speeches. Erickson said not standing was “a slap in the face to those who have shed blood for that flag.”
Smith said those who do not stand for the national anthem “disrespect the flag.” He said it disrespects the military to not stand for the U.S. flag. He said it is the responsibility of people to “honor and remember our veterans who have fought for freedom.”
The judging was held at The Station in Moore’s Central Park.