FROM LEFT ARE CRESWELL VFW POST NO. 4039 COMMANDER BOB BECK; KIM KUHNHAUSEN, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR; JOCELYN STRAM, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR; CONNER COSTA, (KNEELING) WINNER OF PATRIOT’S PEN CONTEST; TIM MEINZEN, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR; SHRISTA MORRIS, SECOND PLACE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY CONTEST WINNER; HANNAH EDWARDS, FIRST PLACE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY CONTEST WINNER; AND OREGON STATE COMMANDER RICK HIGGINS. MEINZEN, OF PLEASANT HILL, AND EDWARDS, OF CRESWELL, ALSO WON AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND WILL GO ON TO THE STATE JUDGING IN JANUARY. Erin Tierney/The Creswell Chronicle
Creswell VFW Post No. 4039, through its dedication of investing in future generations of patriots, recently took part in local competitions that showcased some of the most eloquent, democratic-loving students and teachers in the area.
Students from Creswell, Pleasant Hill and Cottage Grove received recognition for their essays on topics such as, ”why my vote matters,” and ”what the American flag means to me.”
”I was very encouraged by what was written by the students; I have come to realize that patriotism is not dead among our youth,” said Post No. 4039 Commander Bob Beck, who had also gone through the speech program when he was in high school. Teachers from Creswell and Pleasant Hill were also recognized for their dedication to teach Americanism in their classrooms.
VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNERS
The Voice of Democracy competition was established in 1947 and is the VFW’s leading scholarship program. It’s a chance for high school students to put their patriotic pledges to print and presentation, as they compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s theme is, ”why my vote matters.”
Creswell VFW held a contest ceremony on Dec. 7 where veterans, family and friends were invited to hear some of the essays read aloud, pay homage to the Attack on Pearl Harbor and enjoy a potluck dinner.
Shrista Morris, senior at Pleasant Hill High School, took home second place for her Voice of Democracy essay, and Creswell senior Hannah Edwards took home first place on Dec. 7.
Edwards said in her essay on why her vote matters, that most people don’t think about the history behind their rights, that ”for countless generations before us, our brave and loyal ancestors have fought for our freedom. They have shed blood, sweat and tears for the many rights that we far too often take for granted.”
Edward’s winning essay on why her vote matters can be read on the editorial page in this week’s edition.
Edward’s win in Creswell sent her to the District 13 Voice of Democracy competition on Dec. 8, where she again won first place in for her essay. She will now be going to the State competition in January, where she will have a chance to go to Nationals. Winners will be awarded on Jan. 26.
The first-place winner from each state wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000, an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. and can also compete for $155,500 in scholarships. The first place national winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college, vocational or technical school.
PATRIOT’S PEN WINNER
The Patriot’s Pen Essay is for middle school students, who are invited the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills under the theme of ”Why I honor the American Flag.”
Conner Costa, eighth grader at Lincoln Middle School in Cottage Grove, won the local competition for his essay. Costa read his essay aloud at the Creswell VFW, saying, ”I honor the flag to show patriotism to my country, to remember our history and to accept new beginnings and traditions.”
Costa’s essay can also be read on the opinion page in this week’s edition.
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Teachers were also honored through the local VFW Teacher of the Year contest, which recognizes three teachers for their exceptional commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Teachers with an an impressive curriculum that focuses on citizenship education topics are selected from an elementary, junior high and high school classroom.
This year, the Creswell VFW awarded teachers from the Creswell elementary and junior high as well as from Pleasant Hill High School.
Tim Meinzen is a history teacher at Pleasant Hill High School, as well as a publications teacher. He was awarded Creswell VFW’s High School Teacher of the Year. Like Edwards, he too advanced through the District competition and will be attending the state judging in January with Edwards.
Meinzen, a former Peace Corps volunteer, is very active in recognizing veterans – both former students and relatives of his current students, Commander Beck said.
Meinzen regularly invites veterans to his classes to talk about their experiences without a filter, and discusses war and soldiers ”in the most realistic ways to help kids see soldiers as citizens, not professional fighters,” he said.
Meinzen said he hopes ”to emphasize the need to be informed about what is going on, to read and appreciate a free press of multiple perspectives,” Meinzen said. ”I know that freedom is fragile, and I worry every day that we are losing our wisdom and understanding to preserve that by ignoring what is going on, by being funneled by just one news bias into blindness and by viewing difference as demonic. I remind kids that we Americans have always been fractious, but we have moved forward in extending rights, and ‘securing the blessing of liberty’ for later generations.”
Kim Kuhnhausen is a sixth and seventh grade language arts teacher, and a sixth grade social studies teacher at Creswell Middle School. Kuhnhausen was awarded the Middle School Teacher of the Year award from the Creswell VFW.
Kuhnhausen has been teaching at Creswell for nearly thirty years, and said in her class, they discuss citizenship and being strong, positive members of a community.
”I tell all my students, ‘this is important to me because I live in this community and they will be the civic leaders, professionals and people in power someday. I want them all to take good care of myself and others,” Kuhnhausen said.
”We study ancient cultures in sixth grade and we are always discussing how many rights and privileges they ALL are allowed, rather than just the wealthy or just the chosen people,” Kuhnhausen said. ”We discuss how, with those rights and privileges, they have responsibilities to their school, community, state and country.”
Jocelyn Stram, fifth grade teacher at Creslane Elementary School was awarded Elementary School Teacher of the Year from the Creswell VFW. 5th grade.
Stram has been an educator at Creslane for 12 years, and said that ”promoting patriotism is simply finding good things to say about our country and its heroes. I enjoy telling stories in my classroom that promote responsible thinking and courageous acts. I also stock my shelves with patriotic books, have guest speakers in, take field trips to historic places, talk about election day, explain government at their level, and above all else, be an example of respect, bravery, and patriotism.”
She said teaching about citizenship involves discussions around honesty, compassion, respect,
responsibility and courage.
”Very soon, these 5th graders will be old enough to vote and they need practice thinking critically about issues as well as how to present their thoughts to others,” Stram said.
Commander Beck applauded the teachers for their curriculum. He said that teaching patriotism needs to be part of an entire civics program, including classes on ”why my vote matters, how laws are passed, why it is important be be involved in local issues. . . I grew up wanting to be an army officer; I had friends who wanted to be in politics (some still are); civics and history (national and state) were taught when I was young,” he said.
The state judging will be in January, with the winners announced on Jan. 26. Beck said that he recently had lunch with Edwards and Meinzen, and Meinzen said he would help Edwards practice her speech for the state competition.
”I am so grateful to the VFW who maintain a voluntary organization, not only to remind us about the sacrifice of soldiers, but also to promote a real love for their country rooted in care for its citizens, all of them,” Meinzen said.
