Honoring patriotic students

Members of the Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Auxiliary honored the local winners of their essay and Poppy poster contests recently. Congratulated by Auxiliary President Diane Burkhalter (top photo left) and member Tina Mach (right) were students (from left) Benjamin Kerbel, Kaitlyn Johnson, Holden Juip, Bluebell Gremminger and Birdie Gremminger. The students wrote about “What Does America the Beautiful Mean to Me?”  Bluebell Gremminger took third at the state contest, Birdie Gremminger took second at state and Juip took first at state and competed at nationals. Poster contest winners, who were also congratulated by Burkhalter and Mach, included (lower photo) Lucas Mercer, Bluebell Gremminger, Ava Thorne, Natalie Brickner, Georgia Barber and Birdie Gremminger. Brickner took first place at state and competed at nationals.               Photos by Sam Arendt