Is there honor in serving our country?  Emily Taylor believes so.  So much, that the Thomas More Prep Marian High School senior wrote about her belief and has been named the 2011 Hays VFW “Voice of Democracy” essay contest winner.

Taylor read her essay during Veterans Day ceremonies at the VFW Post 9076.  She talked about 1998 TMP graduate CW2 Bryan  Nichols, who died August 6th while serving in Afghanistan, and her brother, who is about to graduate from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

The “Voice of Democracy” contest is sponsored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.  Jodie Wear-Leiker chairs the local  event. 

The essay contest was begun in 1947 as a national scholarship contest for high school students.  The national VFW selects a different patriotic theme each year.