LETTERS: Contest entries also must be written
To the Editor:
I would like to shine a little light on the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Voice of Democracy Scholarship program, which is being offered at this time to the students of Marion High School through the Marion VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary Post 6958.
If Bill Meyer had read one of the articles in his newspaper dated Aug. 21, 2002, he would have noticed that the Voice of Democracy is an Essay, which is written first; then read and recorded on a good quality cassette tape. The typed copy of the Essay is to accompany the cassette tape of the recorded version. Therefore, requires literate students to participate. The contestants need to be able to write down their thought, type their thoughts, and finally read their thoughts into a machine without any other background noise.
Andrew Brookens' First Place Essay of last year's Marion VFW Post 6958 and its Auxiliary Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition went on to win third place in the district. Andrew as you might recall was one of the commencement speakers for the 2002 graduating class of Marion High School. He has since enrolled and is attending Baker University at Baldwin City.
This annual national audio essay contest was first created in 1947 and was designed to foster patriotism by giving high school students in grades 9 through 12 the opportunity to voice their opinion about their personal obligations as an American and address their responsibility to our country. Contestants write and record a three to five minute essay on an annual theme. This year's theme is "Freedom's Obligation."
Coming up Oct. 1, 2002, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary, Ecker-Fulkerson-Slifer Post 6958 will be offering Patriot's Pen, a nationwide youth essay writing contest to grades 7 and 8. This competition gives these students the opportunity to write a 300 to 400 word essay expressing their views on democracy. The 2002-2003 theme is "My Pledge to America." The judges for this contest have been the staff of the Marion County Record. I believe Mr. Meyer confused the Voice of Democracy for the Essay contest, now the Patriot's Pen, which he has had a part in judging.
Veterans of Foreign Wars, including Mr. Meyer, are men and women who have given their all to fight to keep freedom in this country so why wouldn't they expect that and much more from the youth who will someday be the future leaders of these United States.
However, if Mr. Meyer is implying that Andrew and the many other winning participants of the Voice of Democracy scholarship contest are illiterate, he owes all of them and the Veterans of Foreign Wars an apology.
Donna Kreutziger
Marion
