By JIM CANFIELD
Moapa Valley Progress
On Jan. 19, at the Casa Blanca Resort in Mesquite , The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) held its Nevada State Convention at the Casablanca in Mesquite.
During the convention the VFW Nevada State-level mid-winter awards ceremony honored winning recipients of the VFW’s Premiere Programs. These included Voice of Democracy (VOD), Patriots Pen Essay (PP) and the Citizenship Education Program.
This year, the Nevada State winners of both the Patriots Pen Program and the Citizenship Education Program were both residents of Moapa Valley: Logandale youth Iain McMurray and MVHS teacher, Jeffery Keel.
Every year the VFW and local auxiliary recognize outstanding teachers for their commitment to teaching patriotism to their students. Besides promoting patriotism and responsible citizenship to their students, the program is designed to stimulate interest in America’s history, traditions and institutions. Each year an elementary, junior high and high school teacher whose curriculum focuses on patriotism are nominated for the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.
This year’s teacher of the year at the high school level was Jeffery Keel. Keel was nominated by Elwood Perkins Post 8336 and NV District 6. He received all three levels of awards: local, district and state.
Keel has been teaching for 45 years at Moapa Valley High School. He stasrted in 1974 and is still going strong. He teaches health education, drivers education and girls physical education. Keel is committed to providing his students with an education that stresses the importance of being all they can be.
The Patriot’s Pen was created to foster patriotism by giving students the chance to express, in their own words, what this year’s theme means to them. The Patriot’s Pen essay contest is open to students in grades six through eight.
“Participants are asked to write a 300 to 400-word essay on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander in Chief,” said VFW member Bruce Hollinger, coordinator for the event.
Themes are released in March each year with this year’s theme being “Why I Honor the American Flag.”
Twelve essays were originally presented. During the ceremony each district’s finalist was awarded a plaque, a Patriots Pen backpack, a Patriots Pen notebook, a State Commander’s pin and a cash award of $250. This year’s winning essay belonged to Iain McMurray from Logandale.
The winning essay, a very moving piece on why he honors the American Flag, was read aloud by McMurray to a very attentive group of Veterans. Having won State Honors, McMurray will now hopefully move on and win National Honors.
