Zach Spicer, The Tribune/ Hannah Romero De Gante, second from left, an eighth-grader at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Seymour, recently was recognized as the winner of the Patriot's Pen patriotic essay-writing contest. Also pictured, from left, are John Schafstall, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925; Leon Lane, local contest chairman; and Barb Barger, president of the VFW Post 1925 Auxiliary.