Sultan Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 2554 used the Feb. 6 Sky Valley Community Awards Celebration as an opportunity to congratulate 10-year-old Sultan resident Kegan Aamold for winning the VFW essay contest held at the end of last year.
Senior Vice Commander Dave Sivewright and his wife, Christina, presented the recognition. Aamold's essay made it all the way to the state-level competition in January, where it took first place. Christina Sivewright, a member of the Sultan VFW Auxiliary, coordinated the essay contest in the Sky Valley, which included three separate competitions; one at the elementary school, one at middle school and another at the high school.
"Working alongside America's youth and instilling a sense of patriotism has always been and always will be a VFW priority,GÇ¥ Christina said.
The VFW is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to veterans' service, community outreach and veteran advocacy. The organization was founded in 1899 and chartered by the United States Congress in 1936. In order to be eligible for VFW membership, a veteran must have served in a foreign conflict.
Dave Sivewright thanked several VFW members for their volunteerism and community advocacy.
He recognized Chuck and Colleen McCollough for volunteering at Sultan High School; Gerry Gibson for his dedicated effort to bring attention to pollution in the Skykomish River; Charles "OleGÇ¥ Carlson and his wife, Marlene, for volunteering at the Sky Valley Senior Center and the Sultan Visitor Information Center and Ann Marie Bunch for her work with the Sultan School District and at the senior center.
He honored Andy and Stacy Schmidt for volunteering with Safe Stop, and Joe Stone and Bob Klement for their work with the Sultan Block Watch program. He also acknowledged Klement's successful effort to get a bill passed in Olympia last year, which increased access to fishing for at-risk youth.
He thanked Commander Chuck Donahue and his wife, Judy, for their efforts to save and restore Post No. 2554, and recognized all VFW members for always being willing to rise before the sun to position the American flags along Sultan's Main Street on holidays and other special events.
"Our members give us good reason to celebrate tonight,GÇ¥ Dave said.Photo by Chris Hendrickson VFW essay contest winner Kegan Aamol receiving honors during Sky Valley Community Awards Celebration.
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