Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Pictured left to right are VFW Program Coordinator Doug Peterson, Hinsdale student Kade Strommen, who won the local competition for the Voice of Democracy essay, VFW Service Officer Art Widhalm and VFW Auxiliary President Jason Myers.
Pictured left to right are service officer Art Widhalm, Commander Jason Partridge, Valley County dispatcher Kim Woulfe and Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer as Woulfe was recognized as Dispatcher of the Year on April 11.
Pictured left to right are VFW Auxiliary President Jason Myers, Glasgow student Romie Zumbuhl, who was a Patriots Pen essay winner, VFW Program Coordinator Doug Peterson and VFW Service Officer Art Widhalm.
Pictured left to right are VFW Program Coordinator Doug Peterson, Hinsdale Berkley Hillman, of Hinsdale, who won the VFW District Competition for her Voice of Democracy essay, VFW Service Officer Art Widhalm and VFW Auxiliary President Jason Myers.
Pictured left to right are VFW Program Coordinator Doug Peterson, Hinsdale student Reese Bowman, who was a Patriots Pen essay winner, VFW Service Officer Art Widhalm and VFW Auxiliary President Jason Myers.
Pictured left to right are service officer Art Widhalm, Commander Jason Partridge, Valley County Undersheriff Chris Richter and Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer as Richter was recognized as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year on April 11.
Pictured left to right are VFW Auxiliary President Jason Myers, Opheim student Lana Mason, who was a Patriots Pen essay winner and VFW Program Coordinator Doug Peterson.
Valley County Undersheriff Chris Richter and Valley County dispatcher Kim Woulfe were recognized and provided the VFW Public Servant Award during the monthly VFW Post #3107 meeting on April 11. These two public servants were recognized for their hard work and dedication in serving the Valley County community over the past year. Richter was awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year while Woulfe was awarded Dispatcher of the Year award.
Every year the Veterans of Foreign Wars selects emergency medical technicians, law enforcement and firefighter personnel to receive these VFW Public Servant Awards after asking for one nomination from each group. After being nominated by Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer, VFW Post 3017 members voted on the nominees to determine the winner. In addition to receiving a certificate, they also received coupons for two free steak dinners and will advance for a change at statewide recognition.
In order to qualify for these awards, candidates must have demonstrated recognition by their colleagues or those they serve, have consistent excellence in the performance of their duties, have consistent dedication to their official responsibilities over a period of years and continuous growth in responsibilities and skills within their position. There are a total of 68 posts in the State and any post can send in a nomination. The nominations are reviewed by the State Commander and Quartermaster to select the winners.
After recognizing those who provide service to the community, the VFW went on to recognize the younger generations this past week by recognizing area winders from the Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy contests. This year's themes were "My Voice in American Democracy" for Patriots Pen and "Is American Today Our Forefathers Vision?" for the Voice of Democracy.
Patriots Pen winners were Reese Bowman, second award for Hinsdale, Romie Zumbuhl, of Glasgow, and Lana Mason, of Opheim. The Voice of Democracy award winners were Kade Strommen of Hinsdale, who on the local competition; Berkley Hillman, of Hinsdale, who won the VFW District Competition and Marie Still, of Opheim.
Conducted nationwide, the VFW-sponsored youth essay competitions give students an opportunity write essays expressing their view on an annual patriotic theme.
Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The Patriot Pen 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.
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