Point Pleasant Borough and Point Pleasant Beach Schools Announce Winners of VFW Essay Contest

Brendan Hart, a seventh grader at Memorial Middle School, and Tara Clark, a seventh grader at Antrim Elementary School, were recently honored as the local middle school winners in an essay contest about patriotism.

Hart and Clark each won first place for their essays in their respective schools in this year's Annual Patriot's Pen Essay Contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The contest awarded winners, such as Brendan and Tara, on the local level and on the state and national levels as well.

Tara was one of about 45 Antrim students who participated, with most of those essays written by seventh graders.

Hart and 23 other Memorial Middle School students who submitted essays were recently honored by the local VFW Post 4715 based in Point Pleasant Beach.

Language Arts teachers at the middle school gave students the option of writing essays of 300 to 400 words for the contest.

Open to students in grades sixth through eighth, the essay contest gives students a chance to express their thoughts on a patriotic theme and potentially earn awards and prizes.

The Patriot's Pen Essay Contest is one of many school programs sponsored by the VFW. The organization provides more than $2 million in college scholarships and savings bonds to students annually through a variety of programs designed to increase awareness about veterans affairs and to foster patriotism.

Each Memorial Middle School student who participated was presented with an Award of Merit by Vincent Castin, an Adjutant of the local VFW Post 4715 and Sue Cole, VFW Ladies Auxiliary President, in a ceremony held at the middle school last week.

Castin, a Point Pleasant Beach resident, thanked them for their thoughtful submissions.

"It was a pleasure to read your essays," said Castin, a U.S. Navy veteran. "You did a tremendous job and demonstrated that you understand a true patriot is someone who puts their country first."

After relating his experience as an active service member aboard the USS Boston, Castin introduced Cole for an explanation of the duties of the Ladies Auxiliary and membership requirements.

"The VFW Ladies Auxiliary strives to uphold our motto of 'honoring the dead by helping the living,' " she said explaining that members must have a close relative that served in the military to join the organization.

Hart wrote in his essay: "Patriotism is more than just the military. It is the belief in what our country stands for. Patriotism still matters [because] freedom, belief in our country, and how it helped shape what [our country] is today."

Castin said the submissions were judged based on knowledge of the theme, theme development and clarity of ideas.

 After each student received their certificate, Castin presented a plaque to the school for supporting the contest while urging the students to use their experience with this year's contest to consider entering for next year.

"Don't stop here," he said. "Let this be the beginning of your participation with the VFW."

Castin said awards are given at the local, district, and state levels with winners competing for over $100,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds.

"Start thinking about next year's theme, 'Are You Proud of Your Country?' and get working on your drafts," he said.

"Patriotism is an essential component of civic education," said Middle School Principal Gary Floyd. "I'd like to commend Memorial Middle School's English teachers for sharing this essay contest opportunity with their classes and ultimately helping to promote positive citizenship while fostering patriotism."

Memorial Middle School participants are: Eighth Grade: Sara Dravis, Gillian Gude and Owen Herrington. Seventh Grade: Brendan Hart; Melissa Alfonso; Shea Blake; Jessica Calabrese; Marlon Crouchelli; Natalie Dikun; Courtland Hackle; Michael Waddleton and Stephanie Zalesky. Sixth Grade: Kyra Beseck; Alexandria Clark; Cortlandt Dalek; Sherly Escobar; Cooper Klotz; Diena Ten Broeke-Levitsky; Edward Macnicki; Justin Rafi; Joey Schollenberger; Tyler Tweedie; Emily Viecelli and Rachel Visco.

To find out more about the Point Pleasant School District, visit the district website at www.pointpleasant.k12.nj.us.