The annual VFW Patriot's Pen completion is for students living within 50 miles of Brainerd, MN. It is writing a 300-to-400-word essay from students in grades 6 - 8. The theme for the 2022-2023 competition is,
"My Pledge to Our Veterans." The entry deadline was October 31, 2022. Local prizes are $100.00, 150.00 and $200.00. Winners move on to district, state and national competition where $55,000 in prizes are given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
| November 3, 2022: The first-place $200 winner is Kasey Hamlin of Nisswa, Minnestoa. Kasey is a 6th grade student at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. The essay:
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My Pledge to Our Veterans
Veterans have done so much for me. They served my country to keep me safe. We all can make pledges to them to thank them for their service. What would you do if you saw a veteran wearing a hat that said something like "Navy Veteran"? I would go up to them and say thank you for your service, that would probably make their day and that is why I
made these pledges.
My first pledge to veterans is to learn more about what they did for me. So many veterans have amazing stories about their service and what it was like, why they served, how it affected them, and how they got into the military. They have so much to tell but many people aren't willing to listen, I am. I've loved learning about this ever since I was little, my great great uncle fought in world war two and he would always tell stories about it. I still remember them today. He
is the reason I love to learn about this.
My second pledge to veterans is to always respect them and to always be kind to veterans. Some people don't respect veterans and aren't very nice to them and that is why I am making this pledge. I feel like not many people say thank you to veterans, more than a couple of times, or maybe some people never say it. I say it a lot. I was taught from a young age to always be kind to veterans. I was taught this because a lot of my family was in the
military, both of my grandpa's were in the military.
My third pledge is to always be thankful for veterans and what they did for me. Veterans have done so much for me, and I will always be thankful for them. They fought in wars for me, risked their lives for me, and maybe even got injured for me. They did all of this for me, the least I can do for them is to be thankful and kind.
Veterans are such a big part of our country, and its history. They fought for their country with pride and
certainty. They have fought for me and my country and might even do it again if they had to. So, the least I can do is make these pledges to them.
| November 3, 2022: Mullen Bratney of Brainerd is the second-place $150 winner. Mullen is a 7th grade student at Forestview Middle School.
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| November 3, 2022: The third-place $100 winner is Tucker Hanson of Merrifield, Minnesota. Tucker is a 6th grade student at Forestview Middle School.
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(l-r) Bill Satre interviewing Mark Persons on B93.3 and Cool 103 Radio on 09/26/2022
Mimi Bueckers, Pine River, MN
| November 8, 2021: First Place Brainerd VFW 2021-2022 Patriot's Pen Winner. Mimi Bueckers received $200.00.
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America was founded on the belief that all people are created equal and that each person has the right to freedoms. Some American ideals are democracy, liberty, opportunity, and equality. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, " is engraved on the Statue of Liberty. Americans are compassionate, helpful, caring, and want good for all people. By using these American ideals of equality, serving others, and
persistence, I can be a good American.
I can treat others with respect and with the knowledge that we are all created equally. I think that sometimes Americans forget that we are all equal, which is one of the biggest problems in our country today. Too many Americans treat others rudely just because they look different, have different color skin, believe in different things, or are from different backgrounds. I can be a good example for others by being respectful to everyone even if they are
different. "E Pluribus Unum" is America's motto, it means "out of many, one' ' . The United States is a nation of immigrants; of different races, languages, religion, and traditions, but we still all come together united. I can be a good American by recognizing other people's differences but still seeing them as a person and as an American.
I can be a good American by serving others. Volunteerism is a big American value. Good Americans are always willing to help others without expecting to be
paid. By volunteering and helping others freely, I can be a better American.
Americans have always had persistence and a good attitude when it comes to getting things done. I can be a good American by continuing this tradition in my own life. There are times when I am tired and feel I can 't accomplish the task at hand, but if I put my mind and heart into it, I know I can do it. Americans have the ideal that anything is possible and that's a wonderful thought to have. I can accomplish things
with persistence and perseverance.
Being a good American means having many good values. I can be a good American by using my values and treating others with respect and equality, by serving others in need, and by having persistence. America is a wonderful nation and I am happy to contribute to it by being a good American.
Soren Benson, Pillager, MN
| November 8, 2021, Second Place Brainerd VFW 2021-2022 Patriot's Pen Winner. Soren received $150.00.
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Annemarie Cady, Crosby, MN
| November 8, 2021, Third Place Brainerd VFW 2021-2022 Patriot's Pen Winner. Annemarie received $100.00.
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April 1, 2021: The 2020-2021 theme was "What is Patriotism to me?" The first place national VFW Patriot Pen winner was Wyatt Perkins, from Maryville, North Dakota. He was awarded $5,000. Fourth place was Julianna Stacey, from Long Prairie, MN. Her prize was $2,750. She placed fourth in national
competition.
Alex Lelwica
| The 2020-2021 First Place winner at the Brainerd VFW was Alex Lelwica, an 8th grader at St. Francis of the Lakes School in Brainerd. His essay was entered into the Minnesota 6th District Patriot's Pen competition. The theme: "What is Patriotism to Me?"
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Patriotism to me is being proud to be a part of a country. For example, I'm proud to live in The United States of America where we get to choose who leads us and where we get to live freely. We have brave men and woman who fight for us and this is when you know you have something good. That is something that people are willing to fight and die for.
One of the many privileges of living in this amazing nation is the ability to elect our leaders. We
get to decide who we want to make laws on our behalf. Therefore, our leaders are a representation of who we are as a people. We should learn to be accepting of the mistakes our leaders make. That to me is patriotism. It is where we can devote ourselves to building our country and voting to make it what you want it to be. Another privilege is the ability to do what we want. We are given so many rights in this country that people take for granted. Even the content of the newspaper is a gift
granted by our government that a lot of countries don’t enjoy. We live in a place where we get to decide what we do with our life and it isn’t controlled by other people. That to me is patriotism. To be free and still use that freedom to love your country as citizens. A third privilege is that there are men and woman in foreign lands that put their lives on the line to protect all citizens rights. They constantly put themselves in danger for us. I’m honored to live in a country that is so
good people are willing to die for it. When we are trying to be stopped from freeing people and letting everyone be equals, we still fight back no matter what. All this is patriotism to me. We live in a country so great that amazing men and woman are willing to put themselves in danger and die for this nation!
Overall patriotism to me isn’t one individual thing. It is everything. From the little to big things that together make me so proud of The United States of America. It is the people
that make this country something to be proud of. This all is patriotism to me.
2nd place, Elizabeth Sarvie, 8th grade Brainerd
| 3rd place, Margaret Ringhand, 7th grade Brainerd
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January 18, 2020: Thea Bothun of Rochester, MN, was selected as the 2019-2020 MN state winner of the Patriot's Pen competition. She was very well spoken at the MN VFW Mid-Winter Conference and should do well in the future.
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