Patriot's Pen: Hofer's Second Place Story

The local VFW and Auxiliary promoted the 2023-2024 Patriots Pen Essay competition. Across the county, grades 6-8 wrote their own personal belief and thoughts on the topic this year, "How Are You Inspired By America."

This year, three judges were challenged with the task of selecting their choices from the nearly 70 entries. This process took nearly four hours and additional time to record and review the entries after the judges made their choices.

Annually, approximately 112,000 students enter to win one of several savings bonds totaling $12 million. Also available is an all-expense-paid trip...