SEA ISLE CITY – On January 5, representatives from VFW Post 1963 and other community leaders gathered at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School in Clermont to honor the winners of Post 1963’s 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition, which is part of a national VFW contest that annually includes over 68,000 students in grades six through eight.
The yearly writing competition, which has a grand prize on the national level of $5000, encourages students to explore American history and intertwine their own experiences and feelings in a 300- to 400-word essay.
The theme for this year’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest is “How are you inspired by America?”
During an assembly inside their school’s gymnasium, which included children from Pre-K through eighth grade, the twenty-three Bishop McHugh students who participated in this year’s writing competition were introduced to the audience and asked to step forward to receive a commemorative pen before the event’s three winners were announced.
This year’s VFW Post 1963 Patriot’s Pen first-place winner was seventh grader Lily Klebaur, who received a medal, a certificate of achievement, and a check for $300 from Post 1963.
Also honored were seventh graders Myka Morris, who received $200 for second place; and Lukas Childs, who took home third place honors and $100.
Lily Klebaur read her winning essay in front of the entire assembly. She will advance to the state (and hopefully, national) levels of competition later in the year.
“We had an excellent amount of involvement from the students, and there were some really inspiring essays written this year,” said former VFW Post 1963 Commander Mark Lloyd.
“Each year, we enjoy learning the mindsets of the youth of America and to see what is important to them, because they are our future and it’s very refreshing to learn what is on their minds, how they feel, and how they think.”
To learn more about VFW Post 1963, go to www.vfwpost1963.com, phone 609-263-1711, or visit Post 1963’s headquarters at 301 JFK Boulevard in Sea Isle City.
