Seventh-graders Kadin Stremlau and Cole Morris placed in the top three of the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, the VFW of Louisa announced this past week. Stremlau place first in the competition, while Morris took third place.

Each year in October, MAJ David Mitchell helps his seventh-grade students enter the contest, which requires a 400-word essay expressing their views based on the patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. This year’s theme was “How Can I Be a Good American?”

Stremlau is the son of Kelly Stremlau of McAllen, Texas. Morris is the son of Amber Townsend of Scottsville, Virginia.

Congratulations, Kadin and Cole!