Mary Ellen Zangara

By: centraljersey.com
Three Christ the King School students were honored as local winners for the Veteran’s of Foreign War Patriot’s Pen Essay competition. Allison Charneski of Manville, Matthew Dowling and Andrew Colabella, both of Hillsborough, were recognized by Manville VFW Post 2290 chairman Fred Gorbatuk and Commander Charles Goodyear Feb. 25 at the school.
The Patriot’s Pen Essay competition is in its 16th year and is an annual nationwide essay competition for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. The student must write a 300- to 400-word essay on an annual patriotic theme. The 2010-2011 theme was: Does Patriotism Still Matter? Winners received United States savings bonds as prizes.
Under the Veterans of Foreign War and its Ladies Auxiliary sponsorship, the annual national awards have increased to $92,000. The first place national winner receives a $10,000 Savings Bond and an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. The total monetary value of savings bonds and awards provided by VFW posts, auxiliaries, districts, county councils and departments amount to just over $1.2 million and more than 112,000 students participate nationwide.
Mr. Gorbatuk explained how the students at Christ the King placed.
"If 15 students enter, you can advance one more student to the district. We have one student here that did not take first, second, or third place but we are allowed to advance one, so I said, ‘Judges, give me a fourth-place finisher,’ so he advances. He took second in the district which is a higher level of judging," he said.
Allison took second at the Post 2290 level and Matthew took third at the Post 2290 level. Both received a monetary gift from VFW Post 2290 and the Ladies Auxiliary. Andrew did not finish in the top three Post 2290 level but advanced to the district. He also received a gift.
In Allison’s essay, she wrote that "Patriotism means the love of one’s country and willingness to sacrifice for it. Only a patriot would willingly lay down his life for his country."
Matthew wrote, "Patriotism is a very important attitude all citizens should uphold. Since the beginning of America’s independence, Americans have been known to have great pride for their country" in his essay.
Christine Benson, principal of Christ the King School, was proud of the students.
"We are very proud of our students because they exemplify what we stand for in Catholic education. We not only work to help out students with their spiritual life buy we help with their civic life and we feel by participating in this contest, we have given them a little glimpse of what that civic responsibility entails. We are very very proud of these three kids," she said.