Submitted by Michael P. Mauer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two local siblings earned top honors from Alachua County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2811 as this year’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen winners.
Earning first in this year’s VOD competition is 17-year-old Isa Pillari from Newberry. Her brother, 13-year-old Ilo Pillari, got the top slot for the post’s Patriot’s Pen scholarship. Both students are home-schooled by their parents, Pramod and Catherine Pillari.
Each winner received a $100 award and a trophy from VFW Post 2811 at the organization’s Dec. 12 meeting. Annabell Zachritz, a 17-year-old senior at The Rock School, received a trophy and $75 as the post’s second-place VOD contestant.
At the same meeting, the siblings read their essays to VFW Post 2811’s membership and auxiliary.
“The post membership and I were truly impressed with the quality and content of both their essays,” said Avery L. Owen, VFW Post 2811 commander. “As an organization of combat veterans, many of us were sincerely touched at the sentiment. It is good to know that the basic principles of freedom and democracy that we fought for are being cherished by young people in our community.”
The topic for this year’s VOD essay competition was “Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” Competitors for the Patriot’s Pen contest wrote on the theme of “My Voice In America’s Democracy.”
“I don’t think the students who participated this year could have written to these subjects any better than what they did,” said Owen, a retired master sergeant who served with the 3rd Bn, 20th Special Forces Group of the Florida Army National Guard. “I think they’ll do well at the next level.”
The combat veteran also added a personal reflection. “They give me hope for the future,” said the VFW Post 2811 commander.
The winning VOD and Patriot’s Pen candidates will move to the next bracket at Florida VFW District 14. This comprises VFW posts from Lake City, Palatka, Lake Butler, Interlachen, and Gainesville. If forwarded from there, entrants will earn a chance to compete at the VFW Department of Florida. Once advancing, winners will then vie at the VOD national level where the top laurels include a $30,000 scholarship.
Other VOD national scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000, and the top winner from each state can earn a minimum scholarship of $1,000 plus an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
The top Patriot’s Pen competitors selected from each state can earn $50,000 in awards, as well as a top prize of $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Both the VOD and Patriot’s Pen scholarships are open to all students from middle school through high school.
The VFW is observing its 125th anniversary this year. Those interested in VFW Post 2811 and its activities can call 352-376-7660.
Michael P. Mauer is a life member of VFW Post 2811. He served as an Army photojournalist during Operation Desert Storm and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf for his actions during the war. This year, Mauer won the Silver Award for top feature article in the VFW National Publications Contest.