Montgomery VFW Post Holds Voice of Democracy Contest

What is democracy?

For 65 years, the Montgomery post of Veterans of Foreign Wars has been asking this question of local teens. They call it the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, and this week, they did it again, giving a total of $1,900 in U.S. savings bonds to eight Aurora high school students.

The VFW works with two Aurora high schools—East Aurora High and Aurora Central Catholic High. About 30 students from those two schools entered this year’s contest, composing essays on the following theme: “Does my generation have a role in America’s future?”

Four winners from each school were chosen. Senior Kayla Goodman of East Aurora and junior Kaylee Hoffner of Aurora Central Catholic won first place, and each received a $500 bond.

East Aurora senior Gerardo Paleo and Aurora Central senior Rey Elizon took second, and each received a $250 bond. $100 bonds went to third place winners Marcos Gomez, an East Aurora senior, and Alyssa Fonseco, an Aurora Central senior.

Taking fourth were East Aurora junior Jose Rios and Aurora Central senior Michael Smoczynski, and they also each received a $100 bond.

This week’s contest was also the last for Warrenville resident Vern Soukup, who has chaired and hosted the VOD competition for the past 15 years. Soukup is a longtime member of VFW Post 7452, and served in the Pacific as a Navy electrician during World War II.

Soukup said he has enjoyed his time heading up the contest, and he’s proud of all the young people who have won. But he simply couldn’t pick a favorite.

“I’ve heard so many, I couldn’t dwell on any one whatsoever,” he said. “They’ve all done a good job, and they’re all winners.”

VFW Post 7452 has about 730 members, Soukup said, and they’re always looking for more. The post is at 122 N. River St. in Montgomery.