VFW recognizes local students, teachers, cop

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The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post honored several Maricopa students, teachers and a police officer through its participation in the national organization’s annual awards programs in November.

Essay contests give high school and middle school students an opportunity to express their views on democracy and win cash prizes. The theme for this year’s Voice of Democracy essay contest for high school students, which requires written and audio submissions, was “Why veterans are important to our nation’s history and future.” Participants in Patriot’s Pen, the middle school version, wrote “Why I appreciate American’s veterans.”

Maricopa High School junior Cristaly Betancourt’s essay was selected as were those by Legacy Traditional School’s Madison K. Tucker, Saasil Luisa Caballero and Derek R. Blakely.

Local winners advance to district, which comprises eight posts. District winners compete at the state level and state winners earn the opportunity to compete for grand prizes in the national competition.

VFW also recognizes law enforcement officers and elementary, junior high and high school teachers who “teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America’s history and traditions effectively.”

Maricopa Police Det. Pamela O’Neal was honored with the VFW National Law Enforcement Public Servant Citation. 

Kathleen Kelley of Butterfield Elementary School, Legacy Traditional School’s Stephan Beltz and Maricopa High’s Dishon Gregory received the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Awards.

“I was happy with everyone’s participation and the quality, from the nominations of the law enforcement to teachers of the year to the content of the essays,” VFW Post 12043 Commander Mike Kemery said.