Amy Xu, an eighth-grade student at Franklin Academy Middle School, was recently awarded the VFW’s Patriot Pen Award for 2014-2015 for her 300- to 400-word patriotic essay.
The award was presented by Commander Dennis Mecum of Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466 at the school.
The essay is an annual contest sponsored by the VFW to foster an awareness in middle schools of our nation’s history and the part veterans play in advancing the American spirit. The theme this year was “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans. Over 100 essays were submitted from area schools.
In addition to winning the Post level competition, Amy also competed and was judged the best of all VFW Posts in the 7th District making up approximately 17 Posts. Ms Xu’s essay was forwarded to the Department of North Carolina where the merits of her essay will be judged among all of the seventeen District winners. At each level of competition winners receive a Patriotic Certificate along with a cash award or gift certificate. Approximately 104,000 students participated in this essay program last year. Winning the National Essay Contest could bring as much as $ 3,000 in scholarship funds for future education to offset future educational expenses plus an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC, for the winner and a parent or guardian.
