During a recent awards ceremony, three Greene County Middle School students were recognized for their patriotic essays.

Jefferson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9599 Commander James Wasson was on hand to give certificates to the top three winners of the Patriot’s Pen contest. First place went to Kristin Wailes, second place was Meadow Losee and Michael Rumley received third place. Middle school students are given the opportunity to write an essay on a different theme each year and submit it to the local VFW organization. This year’s theme is “Why I Honor the American Flag.”

Wailes’s essay will advance onto the district competition. The prize for winning the national contest is a $5,000 scholarship. Last year, Avery Walker was the local Patriot Pen winner.