Corning VFW awards Patriot Pen, Voice of Democracy winners

Julie R. Johnson, Corning Observer, Calif.
·2 min read

Jan. 2—Five Corning youths received cash prizes for their winning essays into the Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests.

Mike Taylor, a member of VFW Post 4218 in Corning and the chairman of the contest program, said the theme of the 2023 contest was "What Inspires Me About America" for the Patriot Pen and "What Are the Greatest Attributes of our Democracy" for the Voice of Democracy essay contest.

ThePatriot Pen contest is for students in the sixth-eighth grades and the Voice of Democracy for high school students.

Taylor presented the winner of the Patriot Pen essay contest, Hayley Day, with $100. She is the 13-year-old daughter of Pamela and Ryan Day of Corning, and a seventh-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Gabriel Henry, the 13-year-old son of Brett and April Henry, was the second place winner who earned $75 with his essay. He is also a seventh-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Third place and $50 was won by 11-year-old Lily Devine, the daughter of Tim and Nicole Devine. She is a sixth-grade student at Richfield Elementary School.

Taylor said each essay was entered in the VFW district-wide contest and that Henry's essay was the winner of that level and will go on to the state level contest.

Winner of the Voice of Democracy and $350 was Carlos Albornoz, the 16-year-old son of Jennifer and Carlos Albornoz of Corning. He is homeschooled through the Kolbe Academy.

Corning High School ninth-grade student Kimberly Rodriguez was the second place winner of Voice of Democracy, awarded $250 for her essay. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Aleli Rodriguez.

In addition to awarding the cash prizes to the essay winners, Taylor presented $1,000 to the Corning High School Parents Club on behalf of VFW Post 4218.