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Essays Sought For VFW Contest

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: October 8, 2008

RUSKIN - A veterans group is offering a $100 U.S. Savings Bond to the two winners of this year's Buddy Poppy Contest.

Sponsored by Ruskin VFW Post 6287, the contest is open to all third-, fourth- and fifth-graders willing to write a 50- to 100-word essay on "What It Means To Be American."

"We want to recognize kids who take the initiative to participate in the contest," said Shirley May, a member of the post's women's auxiliary. "The winners - the Buddy Poppy King and Queen - must be willing to ride in our annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8."

The king and queen are recognized after the parade at the post's awards presentation, which is followed by a picnic.

"I think there's something special about hamburgers, hot dogs and family cookouts," May said. "It's an opportunity for grandparents, parents and children to be together.

"I love the family element of this event."

May said the post usually gets several hundred entries and is expecting more this year. Entries are judged on content, not on penmanship, punctuation or grammar.

The reigning Buddy Poppy King is Nicholas Reinke of Doby Elementary, while Becky Smith of Apollo Beach Elementary is Buddy Poppy Queen. The runners-up last year were Jack Farrington of Apollo Beach Elementary and the Savannah Bolender of Ruskin Christian School and Cameron Fountain of Doby.

The Buddy Poppy is a flower associated with veterans fallen in wartime and a National VFW program for hospitalized veterans.

HOW TO APPLY

Handwritten or typed essays must be submitted by Oct. 22 to Shirley May, 1028 Apollo Beach Blvd., No. 113, Apollo Beach FL 33572.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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