Collinsville VFW Post 5691 and its Ladies Auxiliary hosted the third annual Juanita Huddleston Americanism Dinner to honor Collinsville students who earned awards in the organization’s patriotism contests.
According to Kathy Conn of the Post 5691 Ladies Auxiliary, the group strives to help veterans, be active in our community, and promote patriotism in our world, staring with the young people. The dinner and awards program honors the late Juanita Huddleston who left money to be used by the members to support their mission.
Two hundred twenty-six students from throughout Unit 10 submitted entries for age-defined coloring, poster and essay contests. Twenty-four winners are selected by the Post and Auxiliary members. Honorees in each category received a certificate, medal and eagle pin at the dinner. Every other participant received a special patriotic thank you note from the VFW.
Winners in the coloring contests:
PreK: Alexa (1st), Daisy(2nd) and Elizabeth (3rd)
3 years: Oswaldo (1st), Faith (2nd) and Sophia (3rd)
4 years: Daisy (1st), Braylee (2nd) and Tyler (3rd)
5 years: Giovani Murillo (1st), Hayden Probst (2nd) and Alexa (3rd)
6 years: Penelope Bauer (1st), Jonathan Jauregu (2nd) and Colton Seaton (3rd)
Winners in the poster contest create a poster themed Veterans and What They Mean to Me:
Morgan Laing (1st), Jameson Lismer (2nd) and Beth Campbell (3rd)
Winners in the essay contest What Veterans Mean to Me:
4th grade: Matthew Suarez (1st), Mia Digirolamo (2nd) and Devaun Cobb (3rd)
5th grade: Katie Barker (1st), Erin Middendorp (2nd) and Keith Strong (3rd)
First place winners advancing to district competition are: Penelope Bauer, Matthew Suarez, Katie Barker, Oswaldo, Giovani Murillo and Morgan Laing.
VFW Post 5691 also conducts the Patriot’s Pen (middle school) and Voice of Democracy (high school) contests. In addition to their programs for school children, the local VFW also sponsors many programs for veterans and their families. This year they hope to reinstate the annual Memorial Day parade and community dinner.