DL schools participate in VFW Americanism program

Detroit Lakes students showed their patriotism through the VFW's Voice of Democracy, Patriot's Pen and Americanism contests and activities.

A banquet was held for the participants in sixth, seventh and eighth grades from Holy Rosary and Detroit Lakes Middle schools and the winners from the high school. Awards were given to each participant in the Patriot's Pen essay titled "When is the time to honor our American heroes?"

The Voice of Democracy winners were Cole Remmen, first in local, district and state, and Ruth Goranson, second in local contest. The topic was "Does America still have heroes?"

1/7: VFW's Voice of Democracy winners, left, include Auxiliary President Connie Coalwell, first place winner Cole Remmen, Americanism Chairman Leatrice Wirtz and second place winner Ruth Gormanson.

2/7: Holy Rosary Patriot's Pen winners, left, include Sierra Braukman, Krista Leaf, Brandy Braukman, Kelly Schouviller, Anthony Boehm and Lance Singer. Not pictured are Luke Payne, Austin McCollough and Clare Nelmark.

3/7: Mrs. Buntje's second grade Holy Rosary class, above right, drew flags. Participants include, front from left, Isabella Steffl, Greta Nelson, Mary Eleanor Nelmark, Kobe Braukmann, Jacob Bergstrom, Anna Jones; back from left, Trisha Gebhart, Annika Hughes, Katie Steffl, Ezekiel Olson, Matthew Andersen, Tyler Wirtz, Ms. Buntje, Maci Bellefeuille and Casey Goltz.

4/7: Mrs. Pavelko's Roosevelt Elementary fifth grade students wrote essays on "What does POW/MIA stand for?" Participants include, front from left, Tyler Hackman, Macy Kirchner, Mia Martinez, Mikayla Markuson, Ashley Johnson-Vik; back from left, Lexa Werner, Casey Jensen, Al Valdez, Caleb Redgrave, Brandon Davis and Mrs. Pavelko.

5/7: DL Middle School Patriot's Pen winners, left, include Wilson Lysford, Jacob Richter, Ronda Larsen and CharAnn Vareberg (not in order).

6/7: DeAnna Baukol and Rhonda Fode's Roosevelt Elementary third grade class, bottom left, made POW/MIA collages. Participants include, front from left, Brady Morris, Hailey Ballard, Noah Johnson, Adam Simons, Colton Bunnell, Bobbi-Jo Anderson; middle from left, Liz VanDam, Dawson Winter, Dylan Coalwell, Derek Bjerke; back from left, DeAnna Baukol, Jonah Briard Mark Olson, Aaron Oaks, Madi Kirchner, Paige Sechrist, Kaitlyn Cameron, Sydney Bringer, Sadie Schmit, McKinna Greggersen, Alexis Yliniemi, Grace Johnso...

7/7: Kathy Kath's Holy Rosary kindergarten classes, bottom right, also drew flag pictures. Participants include, front from left, Mrs. Kath, Clint Andersen, Markus Lyman, Emma Coley, Grace Friesen, Cason Dolan, Sophie Nelson; back from left, Brooklyn Anderson, Jackson Zurn, Zach Olson, Brianna Schmidt, Emily Mill, Ethan Lundberg, Nolan Pearson and ShayLee Hughes.