Two Macon County students are the recipients of college scholarship money and more after writing patriotic essays for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2024-2025 Voice of Democracy contest. Michael (Chase) McMahan, a junior at Nantahala School, won first place in North Carolina, while Franklin High School senior Anna Waskey (also a contributing writer for Macon Sense) won second place locally.
Each win came with college scholarship monies. Due to his state win, Chase was also invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete with his essay against more than 50 other state and U.S. territory winners. His essay placed 11th nationally and he received additional college scholarship money.
Chase explained how he got involved in the contest.
“I initially decided to start participating in this contest in the ninth grade because the VFW offered cash prizes, and I saw this as a way to get some money because I consider myself a decent essay writer. Also, I wanted some fishing supplies. Little did I know, this decision would lead me to meet so many loving and caring people in the VFW, to make many friends, and have the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital [by winning the 2024-25 essay contest for the state of N.C.]”
Said Anna about her motivation to enter the VFW essay contest, on top of multiple other academic scholarship opportunities – in preparation for entering college this year, “I noticed the prompt and realized the topic resonated with me. I figured I would be able to write an essay on it, so I went for it.”
Chase added, “It felt incredible to win this honor in the state of North Carolina, and I was proud to represent N.C.’s underdog, District 17. I plan to go to Western Carolina University to complete my basic education and then pursue either nursing school or medical school to become a travel nurse or doctor (still deciding).”
In early March, Chase visited Washington, D.C. to represent Macon County and meet not only essay winners from other U.S. states and territories, but also VFW members from around the country.
“In the end, I realized that befriending the members of the VFW and state finalists in Washington D.C. was worth more than money could ever buy,” he said. “I had an incredible experience, and I want to say thank you to God, my family, my teachers at Nantahala School, Robert Morrow (my mentor), and VFW Post 7339 in Franklin for all of the encouragement along the way. This experience reminds me of a famous quote by [writer and poet] Ralph Waldo Emerson, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
Read the award-winning essays below
“Unity is our only hope of respecting our forefathers’ vision,” by Anna Waskey
America today is nothing like our forefathers’ vision, and when I ponder upon the fallen state of our great nation, I am overcome with disappointment at how we have treated our country. Gone are the days when all Americans united, despite differences, to proclaim pride in our country. Where is the spirit of patriotism that we used to embody so passionately?
Our founding fathers designed our country with a certain zealousness that seems to be vanishing, drawing nearer and nearer to evanescence every single day. We are no longer unified, a free nation proud of its multitude of accomplishments. Instead, Americans are filled with malice —malice for each other, our government, our leaders, our country itself. Our country is growing dangerous with the astronomical amount of hate its citizens possess. We have successfully replaced the pride we used to hold in the United States with hatred and separation.
Although it seems as though the flag that we once waved proudly has gone slack, there is still hope. There are still Americans, undoubtedly like those reading this and I, who believe in the United States. Our country shall not be taken for granted; the freedom, unity, and pride that our forefathers pledged to uphold is not dead, and true patriots strive to fulfill that promise.
No, our country is not as great as it once was, nor is it functioning according to our forefathers’ conceptualization, but we hold the power to resurrect it. We, the people, oversee our attitudes toward our country, therefore we can work to restore its magnificence.
Our nation has generally succeeded in her original goals: to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (“Constitution of the United States,” preamble.). However, we have allowed our nation to falter in these goals. People of different beliefs and backgrounds are clashing, nations are warring, and we are getting involved, poverty in our country has risen. Our nation is not following the design of what our forefathers crafted, but I believe that this design can be resurrected.
To restore our greatness, I think, above all, our nation needs to feel united; this unity is what our forefathers so predominantly intended when they built America. Our country was destined to band together in support of each other. I believe that, despite our differences, we are meant to strive for a powerful sense of unity to one another. This is the only way our country can truly function effectively.
On the contrary, I feel an overwhelming sense of hatred toward one another. No, we are not supposed to agree on all things; otherwise, we could not sustain a democracy. There are always going to be differences among us, but whether those differences relate to politics, religion, government, or anything else, our country has the duty to respect those differences and be willing to listen to each other.
I believe that our nation and its values can be resurrected. Individuals with a positive mindset will make this happen. We need to be persistent in promoting the values upon which America was founded. We are one nation, a truth that needs to be at the forefront of our thoughts if we ever hope to reimpose the original goals of America.
“Is America today our forefathers’ vision?” by Chase McMahan
On July 4th, 1776, America’s forefathers founded The Declaration of Independence, separating America from British rule. Since then, America has bloomed into a country of business, military power, opportunity, diversity, and more. But is America today our forefathers’ vision? I think America today is our forefathers’ vision because of equality, education, and the American dream.
Equality is a topic that America has struggled with. Slavery, the Jim Crow Laws, women not being able to vote, Japanese internment camps, and other prejudiced acts have transpired in America’s past. Back when our forefathers were alive, there was a lot of inequality in America. Some of our forefathers did not like America’s inequality either. For example, Thomas Jefferson called slavery “a moral depravity” and “hideous blot,” but he kept quiet because slavery was the fuel of the American economy at the time. Today, American citizens of all races, sexes, cultures, ethnicities, and religions can vote for politicians they want in office. Career opportunities are more available for all people in America regardless of race or gender. While America is not a perfect country regarding equality, we have significantly improved in the last 100 years. I think some of our forefathers, especially Thomas Jefferson, would be proud of the advancements America has made related to equality.
Back in the time of our forefathers, education was difficult to obtain. Many people could not read or write. Benjamin Franklin once stated: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” This statement by Benjamin Franklin shows how much he advocated for education and knowledge in early America. In modern day America, the majority of citizens can read, write, and formulate their own opinions based on information they gather. Today, nobody is excluded from basic education because of the financial status they are born with. In modern America, there are thousands of educational institutions with strong teachers and staff that guide the future generations of America to be successful, smart, and responsible. America’s education system certainly isn’t perfect, but compared to the times of our forefathers, American education is astounding. If our forefathers, especially Benjamin Franklin, could observe America’s modern education, I think they would be more than proud of what American education has become.
On a stormy winter night, December 26, 1776, General George Washington crossed the Delaware River in a desperate effort to defeat a seemingly undefeatable Hessian garrison in Trenton, New Jersey. That night, Washinton made history, overcoming the impossible, defeating the Hessians, and taking a foothold in the heart of British territory. Washington’s advancements that night boosted the morale of the Americans, and so began the American dream. The American dream is the idea that anyone, no matter who, can elevate themselves financially, socially, and educationally through hard work and determination.
My grandpa is a good example of the American dream. My grandpa never grew up with much. His parents owned one car, his mom stayed at home to take care of him, and his dad worked for a church ministry. Since his family could not afford college, my grandpa enlisted in the United States Army for three years to be able to pay for his student debt. Afterwards, my grandpa was honorably discharged from the Army, and he joined the United States Air Force. My grandpa was stationed in South Korea, and that is where he began his college education. After using his GI bill to afford his first four years of college, my grandpa went to dental school. My grandpa finished dental school and moved back to the states and began his career as a dentist. My grandpa served in the United States Military, started a family, became a successful dentist, and is now happily retired. The reason my grandpa became so successful is because of his vision. He had a vision, a vision of family, success, determination, future, and this vision is only obtainable through the American dream.
America transcends the limits of our forefathers’ vision. America has flourished into a country of equal opportunity no matter where you’re from, what race you are, or what you believe in. American education gives Americans the ability to learn history of the past, gain qualifications for jobs, and explore their perceptions of the world through logic and information. Finally, America is a country where anyone with a vision, no matter how big or small, can work determined for their success in life, and make their American dream come true. While America is not perfect, I think our forefathers would be happy not only to see their vision come true, but their vision be exceeded above and beyond.