Sisters girl wields a Patriot's Pen

Sisters' Ellen Chandler was the winner of the Patriot's Pen youth essay writing contest. She was presented with her award certificate Wednesday evening by Jack Kinsey at the monthly joint VFW and American Legion meeting at Sisters City Hall.

The national program is open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders across the nation and provides an opportunity for middle-schoolers to express their opinions on "What Patriotism Means To Me." Regional winners of the competition go on to compete in the district finals in Bend, then eventually to the national finals where a $10,000 scholarship is at stake as well as an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the winning student and their family.

This year there were nine entries here in the Sisters area, eight girls and one boy, each composing an essay of between 300 and 400 words.

"I'm so excited to win and want to thank everyone. I was very honored to be selected. I love to write and was really surprised when they told me I won," Chandler said. "I've never been to Washington D.C. and would love to see all the monuments and buildings."

JoAnn Roberts of the Military Parents of Sisters was one of the three judges.

"They all wrote on the importance of patriotism, and we judged it based on a point system based on how well they knew the material and history incorporated into the essay," Roberts said. "Then we all compared scores and came up with an overall winner. It was tough choosing the best."

Chandler was invited up to read her essay to the assembled group and confidently stood and delivered the contents, displaying a maturity and poise far beyond her years. The words were carefully chosen and blended seamlessly into a stirring definition of patriotism and mentioned the importance of admiring the flag's colors and honoring this country in our hearts.

Afterward, attendees and her family were invited to share refreshments of coffee, sparkling cider and cookies. Her parents, Robert and Yvette Chandler, expressed their pride for their daughter and her accomplishments.

"I wasn't so surprised when she won. She is writing all the time and her grandfather was a writer and columnist," said Robert. "It's a family thing, it runs in the blood."

Gene Hellickson, American Legion post commander, was impressed not only with what she wrote, but her ability to speak in public without prior warning or notice.

"She was so smart, I couldn't believe someone that young could come up and perform like that," he said. "She got right up and read it like a pro. It was refreshing."