Commander Alan Smith of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4911 recently announced the winners of two Scholarship Competitions sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary.

Patriot’s Pen essay contest received more than 200 essays written by the seventh grade students at Cedartown Middle School. First place was awarded to T.J. Brown, second place to Maddison Hamrick, and third place to Shelby Hogue, all students at Cedartown Middle School. This contest is open to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools as well as home-schooled students at these grade levels. Essays must be 300-400 typewritten words written by the students. The theme for this year was “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.”

Voice of Democracy winner was Luke Easterwood of Armuchee High School. This audio-essay competition is open to students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in public, private or parochial schools as well as home-schooled students. The theme for 2008-2009 was “Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Youth by…”

The winners were guests at a Post dinner where they read their winning essays and, received checks and certificates for their efforts. Earl Kinne, program chairman, said, “It is so rewarding to hear these young people express their gratitude for our veterans’ service. We were very impressed with the quality of essays we received this year.”

He added, “A special thanks to Franklin Roberts of Cedartown Middle School for getting his school involved this year.”