Olivia McClain, center right, is the 2024-25 winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriot’s Pen essay contest. An eighth-grade student at Pleasant Hill Elementary, McClain is presented with her winnings by, from left, VFW Auxiliary Treasurer Ton Cobb, VFW Cmdr. Roy Adams and Auxiliary President Mike Ducheteau. The VFW sponsors the annual essay contest to encourage young minds to examine America’s history along with their own experience in modern American society by drafting a 300 to 400-word essay expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
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