WHITEHALL — Once again, Brian Milliron's honors U.S. history classes at Whitehall High School participated in and, in three cases, took the top spots at the local level in the Veterans of Foreign Wars' annual Voice of Democracy essay contest. Milliron's classes have been constant presences at the top of the local level pyramid as he attempts to use the contest to help students explore their patriotic identity - and potentially earn scholarship money.
"Whitehall's got some great kids, and they're hard-working kids, and this is honors U.S history, so these are sophomores," Milliron said. "They're in a pre-AP setup for AP US History. Each year, I have them do two essays they can get scholarship money for: This one, and one with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Once again working with the VFW, these kids did a fantastic job, and that's something that as long as I'm here and able to do these things, we're going to continue to work with the VFW and the Legion."
This year, the theme of the contest was "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" Milliron's list of winners was especially poignant, because the first-place winner was his own daughter, Mayson. Mayson based her essay around her grandfather, Larry Bacon, who served in the U.S. Navy. She said seeing him participate in the veteran's appreciation nights the Whitehall girls basketball team hosts is a great honor.
"It's such an honor to bring him to these things and see him stand up for these people," Mayson said. "(He's told) me that he didn't know if he was going to be able to get to this point in the world, to be able to come home to me, to our family. (I love) being able to be here and honor him through, not just school, but sports as well."
Taking second place was Maddie Betz, and in third was Ethan Sylvester. Each was awarded a backpack and a miniature American flag. Milliron's essay will move on to the district level in the contest, and if she's lucky, she could join 2023 alum Liam Szegda as state-level scholarship winners. Szegda, Milliron said, won $1,000 and is now studying at the University of Michigan. Szegda was on Milliron's quiz bowl teams, and the coach said some old quizzers plan to get together for trivia at the Red Rooster Tavern Monday to dust off their skills.
Mayson chuckled at the idea that there was extra pressure on her to produce a quality essay because her dad was teaching the class, saying Brian pushes her to succeed.
"Do I treat her a little bit differently, push her a little bit more, and does that upset her? Yes, yes and yes," Brian Milliron laughed. "I always tell my kid and all my kids, whether they're my basketball players, my Quiz Bowl kids or my kids in class, 'Try your best. If you guys try your best, you're going to have happy teachers and happy coaches.'"
Mayson said she hopes the contest inspires Whitehall students and local people to support their veterans. The girls basketball veteran's appreciation night is scheduled for Jan. 9 when the Vikings take on Manistee in the first half of a girls/boys basketball doubleheader.
