IVINS — The winners of this year’s annual essay contest organized and led by Help Patriotism Prevail were announced during a ceremony held on April 19 at the Southern Utah Veterans Home (SUVH). Help Patriotism Prevail is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 by Mr. Jeffery J. McKenna, a local estate planning attorney and the author of novel Saving Dr. Warren….A True Patriot. The foundation’s primary mission is to foster patriotism among youth using McKenna’s novel as an engaging educational tool inside classrooms.
It has been a standing tradition to hold this annual ceremony on Patriots’ Day because of its historical significance. On this day in 1775, American colonists engaged in armed conflict for the first time against the British army at Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the American Revolution. Dr. Joseph Warren played a key role that day and the days that followed, paying the ultimate price for Liberty and Freedom on the battlefield at Bunker Hill. Dr. Warren, a prominent but often overlooked Revolutionary War hero, is a central figure in McKenna’s novel.
This year’s ceremony featured a special addition in observance of Patriots’ Day!
United We Pledge made a brief visit to showcase their Give Me Liberty bus for attendees to explore and enjoy before the ceremony commenced. This was their first public appearance.
Bridging the gap – younger and older generations were brought together to promote patriotism at this ceremony.
Naval veteran Tony Moore, Veterans of Military Affairs Officer at Southern Utah Veterans Home, opened the ceremony sponsored by Avalon Health Care Group. Members from Boy Scout Troop 407 and Red Cliffs of Zion Sons of the American Revolution jointly presented the colors. David Fox, a veteran who served during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, led the Pledge of Allegiance with youth choir member Saige Polluck. Two musical numbers were performed by the Lava Ridge Honors Choir directed by Wesley Buckwalter. Bob Harris, veteran and Residents Council President at SUVH, teamed up with Boy Scout Jackson Mehr in the reading of poem My Name is Old Glory. Ladies from Color Country Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution assisted with award presentations.
Event attendees included essay finalists from Utah with their families, several veterans including SUVH residents, and Avalon Health Care personnel. Finalists outside the state had the opportunity to join the ceremony via a live stream on YouTube.
Students from the states of Alabama, Utah and Washington were among the finalists.
This year, more than 200 middle school students, aged between 11 and 15, participated in the essay competition. From the submissions, ten were shortlisted. Help Patriotism Prevail selected judges from various professions across the nation to score the “finalist” essays to determine this year’s winners.
Jeff McKenna, dressed as Dr. Joseph Warren, had the honor and privilege of disclosing the finalists’ names during the ceremony and announcing the 2024 winners.
Finalists named included: Isabella Arnold, The Learning Corner School (WA); Olivia Avery, Mt. Brook Jr. High School (AL); Brynlee Drake, Crimson Cliffs Middle School (UT); Amira Gibbs, Washington Fields Intermediate School (UT); David Larsen, Liberty Academy (UT); Irish Kenner, The Learning Corner School (WA); Elliot Pitner, Mt. Brook Jr. High School, (AL); Addison Presley, Mt. Brook Jr. High School (AL); William McCoy, Mt. Brook Jr. High School (AL); and Olivia Winkle, Liberty Academy (UT).
Students from Utah claimed victory in two out of the three essay categories, with the top prize being awarded to a student from Alabama.
- Lee Warren Award – Essay titled Being a True Patriot written by Amira Gibbs from Utah. She and her teacher, Aymee DeLaPaz, each received a cash award of $100.
- Grace Levy Award – Essay titled For Ourselves, And Our Country written by Brynlee Drake from Utah. She and her teacher, Shaunna Pederson, each received a cash award of $250.
- Steve O’Dell Award – Essay titled Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All written by Elliott Pitner from Alabama. She and her teacher, Andrew Cotton, each received a cash award of $500. A videotape of Pitner reciting her winning essay was shared at the ceremony.
Cash awards for the top three winning essays are annually sponsored by the Avalon Health Care Group, administrators of the Southern Utah Veterans Home. The remaining seven finalists were each awarded a $50 cash prize generously provided by local Army veteran, Terry Dunne, who has personally funded these awards since the essay contest started four years ago.
The winning essays can be viewed on Help Patriotism Prevail’s website: Help Patriotism Prevail | Nonprofit. Information about the contest and how teachers can apply for a free classroom set of McKenna’s novel Saving Dr. Warren….A True Patriot can also be found on this site. This historical fiction novel with a 4.8 star rating was written for younger readers but being enjoyed by all ages. It is being offered on amazon.com in paperback, audio, and Kindle. Use this link to view more about this wonderful novel about patriotism and the many testimonials it has garnered.
Photo Gallery
Book cover of Jeffery J. McKenna’s historical fiction novel, the primary reading source used by students to compete in Help Patriotism Prevail’s annual essay contest. Photo courtesy of Jeffery J. McKenna.
Cash awards on display at Help Patriotism Prevail award ceremony held at Southern Utah Veterans Home, April 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Valerie King, Color Country Chapter DAR.
Ceremony participants enjoying a tour of United We Pledge’s Give Me Liberty Bus at Southern Utah Veterans Home, April 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Mark Woodbury, Red Cliffs of Zion SAR.
Jim Harper, Peter Jensen, Valerie King, Laura Miller, Jeff McKenna, and Mark Woodbury (L-R) - Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution dressed in their colonial attire at the Help Patriotism Prevail ceremony held at Southern Utah Veterans Home, April 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Valerie King, Color Country Chapter DAR.
Jeff McKenna with essay finalists Brynlee Drake from Crimson Cliffs Middle School, David Larsen from Liberty Academy, and Amira Gibbs from Washington Fields Intermediate School, at the Help Patriotism Prevail ceremony held at Southern Utah Veterans Home, April 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Valerie King, Color Country Chapter DAR.
Jeff McKenna with Utah’s essay finalists and their families joined by Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution at Help Patriotism Prevail ceremony held at Southern Utah Veterans Home, April 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Valerie King, Color Country Chapter DAR.