Tag Archive: Olivia Olson

Olivia Olson Reads her Voice of Democracy Essay on Memorial Day

Author: June 11, 2018

Olivia Olson Reads her Voice of Democracy Essay on Memorial DayFor five straight years — since she was an 8th grader at Brier Terrace Middle School — Olivia Olson has been a fixture during Edmonds Memorial Day events and at VFW Post 8880 awards ceremonies. Her first speech in 2014 came as the winner of 8870’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest for middle schoolers. That was followed by four more winning speeches — one for each year of high school — in the Voice of Democracy contest for high school students. Olivia is known for memorizing her speeches and using no notes when she addresses the crowd. She has also been the winner in VFW District 1 Voice of Democracy competetion.

Awarded the Fred M. Apgar scholarship, she will attend the University of Southern California in the fall of 2018.

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Post 8870 Student Winner Receives VFW State Recognition By Fred M. Apgar

Author: February 10, 2017

Post 8870 Student Winner Receives VFW State Recognition

Olivia Olsen is congratulated by her parents, Vivian and Greg

At its mid-winter convention, the Washington State Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) recognized an Edmonds- Woodway High School junior for her entry in the VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest. Olivia Olson’s essay was awarded third place honors. The audio essay contest is open to all high school students, and Olivia’s essay addressed this year’s theme, “My Responsibility to America”. The convention was held in Vancouver, WA on January 21, 2017, and at the awards banquet that evening, Olivia was recognized for her essay. In addition to a plaque, she also received a scholarship.

For the third consecutive year, Olivia had won first place honors in the Voice of Democracy Essay contest for VFW Post #8870, Edmonds. After being named winner at the Post level, Olivia won District 1 honors, which qualified her for consideration at the state level. As a middle school student, Olivia was a three-time winner of the Patriot Pen Essay for the Edmonds Post. Olivia is a junior at Edmonds-Woodway High School and has earned an outstanding GPA while pursuing a rigorous academic school. Olivia is a member of her school’s Varsity tennis and cross country teams and is a member of the Debate Club. Her passion is public speaking. Olivia lives in Edmonds with her parents, Greg and Vivian, who are both graduates of the United States Air Force Academy.

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Memorial Day Ceremonies

Author: June 1, 2015

Memorial Day Ceremonies

Our own Col Buck Weaver was the honored guest at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Edmonds Cemetery. This year’s theme was VJ Day. Fred Apgar described the origin and meaning of the White Table, now a fixture in every veterans’ organization banquet and meeting place.

0615_Memorial_Day_Ceremonies1Olivia Olson, winner of our Voice of Democracy Contest, recited in grand style her award winning essay about why our country should honor its veterans. She was outstanding.

Finally, Amos Chapman and Neal Goldstein read the list of names and rang the ship’s bell for those Snohomish County residents who were killed in the Pacific Theatre in WWII. I estimate there were approximately 300 hardy souls at the ceremony who braved a slightly chilly day.

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