Siblings take essay contest honors

With seven kids and one on the way, Lori and Matt Stacey’s family could keep the local Veterans of Foreign Wars smiling for years to come.

This year, their two oldest children, Luke, a junior, and Katie, who is in eighth grade, entered writing contests sponsored by the VFW and placed first in state for their age groups. Younger brother Ted won at the post level for sixth grade students.

What may be just as remarkable as two kids from the family winning a state contest is the fact that they are all home schooled. They are also competing with students from large school districts.

Luke first discovered the VFW contests while searching online a few years ago. He has found success with other writing contests as well, winning a laptop after composing a research paper on “How some aspect of the human body supports the biblical account of creation.”

“My research paper was on the fight or flight response,” Luke said. “It was fun.”

Luke entered the high school Voice of Democracy contest for the third time this year. He won at post and district levels all three years, but this year is the first time he has placed at state. The theme for the audio essay this year was, “Why I’m optimistic about our nation’s future.” He will represent Washington state in March when he leaves on an all expense paid trip to our nation’s capital with other state winners for an award ceremony. He is unlikely to come away with less than $1,000 and has an opportunity to take first place that comes with a scholarship for $30,000.

He has also been invited to attend an all expenses paid trip to Valley Forge.

Katie decided to follow suit and entered the Patriot’s Pen essay contest open to all sixth, seventh and eighth graders. The theme this year was “What patriotism means to me.” She won first place at state on her second try. She is waiting to hear how her essay has done against other students on a national level. If she wins there, she will receive $5,000 and an all expense paid trip to Washington DC.

“It’s kind of hard to find a good contest because there aren’t that many that interest me,” Katie said. “I like to write. I did enter a short story contest.”

Ted entered the short story contest as well. They are waiting to hear the results but Katie is already convinced that Ted’s story will beat hers.

On January 18, the Stacey family traveled with VFW members Bob Roche and Danny Eaton and their wives, Esther and Terrie, to Yakima for the 67th Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet. Katie knew that she would have to read her essay to the crowd and had a lot of time to fret during the drive and the dinner and nearly three quarters of the program.

“She was constantly fiddling with her earrings,” Lori said.

According to Bob Roche she didn’t stop shaking until the time came for her to step up to the podium. Her dad had put his arm around her, hoping to provide comfort.

“That’s when the emcee decided to skip her speech and go to the Teacher of the Year Awards,” Roche said. Then she got mad and the shaking stopped.”

“Once I got up there,” Katie said, “it was easy. It was just anticipation.”

Luke and his family did not know he had won at the state level at the time and were unaware that he would be standing before the crowd reading his own essay a short time later.

“I think it was easier for him because I don’t think he was as nervous as I was, Katie said. “He didn’t know, but I did.”

Roche and Eaton were glowing with pride and it was obvious that they and their wives had all formed an attachment to the Stacey family.

“They’re a wonderful family,” Roche said. “Whenever I go over there, the kids are diligently working. It’s evident in what they’ve accomplished. I have so much respect for what they are doing.”

“I couldn’t be more proud,” Eaton said.

The feeling is mutual.

“They’ve really come to enjoy the VFW members that they’ve gotten to know,” Lori said.

“They are awesome!” Katie interjected.

“That is something we’ve really all appreciated,” Lori continued. “How kind they are. How much fun they are. We are really grateful for this opportunity to work with them.”

“It’s an honor to be honored by those people who really deserve our honor,” Luke said with a grin.

Luke loves to write but his favorite studies involve science, technology and math. He really enjoyed the robotic class he took with Jeff Rooklidge at Wahkiakum High School and is considering working in that field. He is on the wrestling team and runs cross-country. He has also started a Patriot’s Club at the high school, where he hopes to raise enough funds to have a motorized flag placed in the gym.

Katie is in eighth grade and while she enjoys writing essays, the best part of schoolwork is finishing it. She plays soccer.

As for their future in writing contests, Luke is done with this one. His win at state takes him out of next year's competition. However, Katie is ready for the next one.

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat!” she said.

“I wish I could,” Luke said.

“Yeah, you’re done!” Katie laughed, signaling that her turn was coming.

“The VFW’s Voice of Democracy is a program that started in 1947 so that students could learn about history, understand about sacrifices that were made for our country, and to know where their freedoms have come from,” Roche said.

“These kids are why we’ve been working this hard for so many years,” Roche added. “I am grateful for Theresa Libby and her staff for the support they have given us.”