GENTRY — Artwork from the Young American Creative Patriotic Art contest are on display in the Gentry Public Library until March 25th.
Nine students from Lynn Garside’s Gentry High School art class entered their art pieces in the contest, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Levi Douthit Post 1674.
The art paintings were judged March 7. Judges criteria included the theme, “The Love of Our Veterans and Country,” presentation, patriotism expressed, originality, clarity of ideas, design, total impact of work and uniqueness. Judging the local entries were Cristen Smartt, Wendy Marney, Posy Summers and Terrie Metz.
The art pieces were displayed in the V.F.W. Post at Siloam Springs and judged by four veterans as well - Steve Milbourn, Thomas Sullivan, James Dickey and Frank Lee. Both groups of judges agreed on the winners.
Four winners were selected: First Place, AnthonyGil, 18; Second Place, Valerie Rose-Reading, 18; and Third Place, a tie between Baokou Vang and MaKayla Wilks, both 17.
The four winning pieces from the local ladies auxiliary will be judged at the district level, with the winning piece there being forwarded on for national judging. National Scholarships will be awarded to winners at the national level, with the first-place winner receiving $10,000; the second-place winner, $5,000; Third, $2,500; Fourth, $1,500; and Fifth through Eighth, receiving $500.
The top four winners will also have their artwork displayed at the Auxiliary National Convention and featured in the Ladies Auxiliary V.F.W. Magazine and on the Auxiliary’s Web site.
The four Gentry winners wrote the following about their artwork: First-place winner - Anthony Gil, 18
My painting is very representative of the patriotic spirit. The prominence of the flag in the middle distance shows that our country’s citizens always have the worth of our country tous in their minds. It is blowing in the wind symbolizing the fact that the United States of America is always changing, yet the standard remains unchanged. The sunset behind the picture, was to symbolize the "closing of a day" for this country to a new day where we will no longer need to send our men and women off to do the morbid deeds that war requires. The field of dry grass is for the multitudes of Americans who lost loved ones in wars past, left dry and withered, yet not alone on our own soil. The river is the tears of not only the mourning of families, but also the mourning of fellow comrades who were there to see the monstrosities that death in combat brings.The constitution wrapped around the flagpole shows that we are a nation of great laws that encompass our spirit but do not limit or suppress it. The cliffs with an opening show that there is always a way for our soldiers to get through a seemingly undoable task. The eagle, the symbol of the United States in its entirety, the freedom it exhibits as it soars wherever it sees fit, and without a worry of lock and key, is carrying theMedal of Honor. The medal of honor, recognizably the highest honor any citizen can achieve, is shining to show our gratitude for all the heroes and heroines who gave their lives for the betterment of this great nation, the United States of America.
Second-place winner - Valerie Rose-Reading, 18
The Purple Heart represents all the wounded veterans in our country. The poppies around the flagpole are for all our beloved fallen soldiers. The original American Flag is to express how we love our country since it was first founded.
Third-place winner - MaKayla Wilks, 17
Whenever I hear "Love of our Veterans," I think ofthe family of the soldiers. It shows the soldier dreaming of being reunited with his family.
Third-place winner - Baokou Vang, 17
Patriotism expressed in my artwork is how the veteran looks up to the American Flag and the American Eagle in love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.
Community News, Pages 8 on 03/23/2011