Edmonds-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8870 recognized three students –two from Edmonds and one from Mukilteo — who submitted the winning entries in the Annual National VFW Essay contest.

Winning the elementary school contest with the theme “What is an American?”  was Amanda Harris, a fifth grader at Mukilteo Elementary School.  The Patriot’s Pen essay contest for middle school students with the theme “Are You Proud of Your Country?” was won by Gunnar Brent, an eighth grader at Maplewood Parent Cooperative School. For the third consecutive year, the winning entry to the Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest was submitted by Katerina Nguyen who is a senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School.  The audio essay contest is open to high school students, and Nguyen’s essay addressed the theme “Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military?”

Post 8870 Commander Jim Traner presented each student with a certificate of appreciation for their outstanding expressions of patriotism and a $100 prize for their winning essays.  Their entries have been forwarded to Washington State VFW for consideration at the district and state levels.

The Post’s student essay competition is coordinated by James “Rock” Roth, who serves as Senior Vice Commander.  The next meeting of VFW Post 8870 will be Friday, Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Senior Center.  More information about the Post’s activities and programs can be obtained at www.vfw8870.org.