Analeah Quinn, a 13-year-old 7th-grade student from Wrightwood’s The Heritage School, won first place in the Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest held by the Tri-Community VFW Post 9415. The contest is open to sixth through eighth-grade students nationwide and receives over 125,000 entries each year. Participants must write an essay of 300-400 words based on America’s history and their own experiences in modern American society.
Quinn’s essay, which discusses how veterans fought for our freedoms to live a better life, was chosen as the winner by VFW members who reviewed the essays. She received a check for $100 as a prize for her accomplishment. Analeah likes writing fiction, drawing, and playing the flute. She is also an avid volleyball player and plays on her school team.
The other two finalists were Josephina Green and Bella Gonzalez, both from Wrightwood. Green, an 8th-grade student at Pinon Mesa Middle School, won second place. Josephina has lived in Wrightwood for 12 years and enjoys the great weather there. In her essay titled “Why America Inspires Me,” she explained that she is passionate about the country and likes seeing patriotism everywhere she goes. Josephina plans on using her award money to save up for a school trip to Washington D.C. and to help purchase a musical instrument.
Gonzalez, a 14-year-old 8th grader at Pinon Mesa Middle School, placed third in the contest. Bella has lived in Wrightwood for three years and loves the scenery of the mountains. In her essay, Bella talked about freedom of speech and the rights she has as an American. She recently used her freedom of speech at school while running for a position on the school’s ASB team. Bella has been playing soccer since she was four years old and now plays club soccer as the Attacking Midfielder. When she is not on the field, she enjoys English class, creative writing, and freestyle writing.
The Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in future generations. It is held annually by the VFW and recognizes patriotic youth within the community. The winners compete at the local, regional, state, and national levels, with each state winner receiving a minimum of $500 and the national winner receiving $5,000.
The awards ceremony was held during the VFW’s popular Friday Night Steak Dinner, where the finalists and their families were invited to attend. VFW Post 9415 has been hosting the essay contest for several years, and this year’s overall theme was “How Are You Inspired By America?”
Overall, the Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest is an excellent opportunity for young students to showcase their writing skills and express their patriotism. It not only encourages them to learn more about America’s history but also inspires them to think about their own experiences and how they are inspired by this great nation.
