Meadowdale’s Philip R. Grossenbacher earned first place honors in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 Voice of Democracy competition.

Entrants in the Voice of Democracy program write and record a three- to five-minute script on a patriotic theme. “Why I’m Optimistic About our Nation’s Future” was this year’s theme.

Grossenbacher’s entry now advances to the next level at the VFW District competition.

“The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school students across the country with the opportunity to speak out on freedom and democracy,” says VFW Post Commander Martin Spani “The program has been popular and successful since its beginning in 1946, and we’re proud to keep offering it to America’s young people.”

Emily E. Banas (Glacier Peak) took second and  Viante R. Dile-Basnight  (Jackson) was third.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is a nonprofit veterans’ service organization composed of combat veterans and eligible military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is the nation’s largest organization of war veterans and its oldest major veterans’ organization.