DOWAGIAC — This year, local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1855 challenged youth in Dowagiac to pen an essay about what makes America great, a theme chosen by the VFW commander-in-chief at the national level.

At the local level, President of the VFW Post 1855 Auxiliary Ann Biek presented five students at Dowagiac Union Schools with scholarships ranging from $25 to $100 for winning the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen 2019 to 2020 essay contests.

Biek presented Abraham Guernsey and Erin Schultz with awards for their essays in the Voice of Democracy Essay Contest on Monday morning. The Voice of Democracy, an audio-essay program, was established in 1947 and has been sponsored by the local VFW post for more than 50 years, Biek said.

Guernsey, a freshman at Dowagiac Union High School, won the first-place award. He previously submitted essays in seventh and eighth grade as part of the Patriot’s Pen program, a VFW sponsored essay contest for sixth through eighth graders. Guernsey first found out about the essay through Biek, who attends his church.

In his winning essay, Guernsey talked about freedom, diversity and military aid in the U.S.

Schultz, a senior at Dowagiac Union High School, submitted her essay for a second year in the row. She discussed elections and the three branches of government.

“I like working hard on it,” Schultz said. “I work hard to be responsible, honest and brave.”

This year, Biek received 12 essay submissions from students at Dowagiac Middle School for the Patriot’s
Pen program.

Christopher Haack, a social studies teacher at the middle school, encouraged his students to participate in the essay contest for extra credit.

“My father was in World War II, and I think that this is something that shouldn’t be lost upon the next generation,” Haack said after congratulating his three sixth grade students who were honored.

Johannah McDonald was awarded first place, Alayna Rogalski was awarded second place and Addison Wilson was awarded third place.

“I wanted to get the extra credit and didn’t know I was going to win,” McDonald said, who wrote about the U.S. Bill of Rights and taxes.

Rogalski decided to enter the essay contest because she had
spare time.

“I wrote about how we have electricity, and some other countries don’t right now,” she said. “Also, how we have food and freedom.”

Wilson’s essay was centered around the U.S. criminal justice system and how it keeps people safe.

Both McDonald and Guernsey’s essays about what makes America great will move onto the district level for judging. Award recipients will also be invited to attend a banquet where they will be further honored.