Phillips 8th grader wins Patriot's Pen

VFW Post #10881 Commander Gordon Webber; 8th grade Patriot's Pen winner Briannah James; James's mother, Tarra Bernaiche; and Service Officer Clyde Penney, pose after the eighth grader was honored for her winning essay. PHILLIPS — During an assembly held Friday at the Phillips Elementary School, 8th grader Briannah James was awarded a savings bond for $100 and a cash prize of $25 for her winning entry in the VFW's annual Patriot's Pen essay contest. Commander of the local James McKechnie VFW Post #10881 Gordon Webber and Service Officer Clyde Penney were on hand to make the presentation and commend James for her work.

Back in the fall, James entered the VFW's annual essay contest for middle level students. The theme for Patriot's Pen 2008 was "Why America's Veterans Should Be Honored." James's entry received first place for local VFW Post 10881, the James McKechnie Post, and first place for District 5, which extends from Newport to the Farmington area.

James's essay recognized "the honorable, brave, patriotic veterans" as the "courageous ones" to whom America's allegiance is owed.

"If veterans will risk their lives, fight on soils that seem so closely related to hell, and do anything and everything in their power to protect this indivisible nation," she wrote, "then it is our duty to honor them."

In conclusion, she quoted John F. Kennedy's "wise advice," "As we express our gratitude we must not forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

"No matter who they are or where they might be," James penned, "to them our allegiance, our gratitude, our honor is forever owed."

In addition to the prizes awarded Friday, James will receive a $200 savings bond for the district prize when she and her family attend the awards banquet in January. This banquet honors award winners from around the state, winners from both the middle level Patriot's Pen and the high school Voice of Democracy competitions. She will also find out at the banquet whether or not her essay won state honors.

James's mother, Tarra Bernaiche, who was present at the assembly, said her daughter has been demonstrating a love and a talent for writing since she was in primary school. In fact, Friday's award was not her first. When James was 10 and in 4th grade, she wrote a piece titled "Night of the Stars," which won her red carpet treatment at a special event at her Lewiston school.