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Each year more than 125,000 students in grades 6 through 8 enter the Veterans of Foreign War’s (VFW) Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest.

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences 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.

Three Fuqua School sixth-grade students placed in this year’s local VFW Post 7059 competition. First place, Ashlyn Ligon from Halifax County; second place, Ariel Barton from Prince Edward County; and third place, Isabella Thompson, from Charlotte County. Ashlyn’s and Ariel’s essays were forwarded to the VFW Virginia District 4 for judging at the district level with Ashlyn’s essay finishing in second place in the district.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, VFW Post 7059 was unable to personally present these awards to all the local winners.