FRANKLINVILLE — Every year, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliaries across the country host the Young American Creative Patriotic Art contest. Auxiliary members work with schools to recruit local youth artists to enter artwork in the contest in one of the two categories — Creative Art and 3-Dimensional Art.

In Franklinville, the VFW Post 9487 Auxiliary has created a wonderful partnership with the high school art teacher to promote this contest. Auxiliary member Angela LaBarron spearheads the contest at the local level.

Franklinville student Kierra Knobloch’s art entry, “Remembering the Fallen.”

With the help of art teachers Timothy Wangelin and Kevin Spoor, the number of participants at the local level has steadily increased over the past few years.

This year, there were seven entries made by Franklinville students — six in the Creative Art category and one in 3-Dimensional Art.

First place in the 3-Dimensional category went to Alexis Miller for her military boots sculpted out of clay that she titled “Retired.”

In the Creative Art category, first place went to Kierra Knobloch for her piece called “Remembering the Fallen,” second place was Addisyn Killingbeck with her artwork of the “Tomb of the Unknown” and in third place was Skylar Kent with her piece called “We Hold These Truths.” Franklinville students Payton Callahan, Kylee Everly and Kaylee Morgan were all recognized for their participation in the contest.

Recently, the Auxiliary hosted an awards ceremony at the Franklinville VFW for all the artists and their families. They all received monetary awards and certificates of recognition.

Alexis Miller and Kierra Knobloch’s artwork advanced to the district level to be judged. The students will be notified directly if their pieces receive awards at the district level. The artwork that wins at the district level advances to the state level, where students can win scholarship awards.

The Auxiliary extended a special thank you to Donald Putnam, Robert Hirsch, Timothy Wangelin and Kevin Spoor for their continued support of this patriotic art contest. The Auxiliary is excited to see this opportunity for young artists to grow in our area.

They also thanked special guest Dee Ippolito, VFW Auxiliary District 6 representative, for attending the ceremony. The Auxiliary is grateful for the community support and looks forward to many more years of amazing artwork.

Franklinville student Alexis Miller’s art entry, “Retired.”