VFW and Auxiliary Recognize Local Winners

Dean Rakoskie, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10825, Pembroke, and Shirley Curl, President of the Lyons/ Vidalia VFW Auxiliary #3563 represented awards and certificates to local winners of VFWsponsored activities last week. Rakoskie and Mrs. Curl visited Vidalia Heritage Academy where they presented awards to Riley Toole, daughter of Sharon and Tony Toole, who won top honors in the region for her Voice of Democracy speech and placed second in state competition.

At Vidalia High School, the VFW representatives presented awards to history instructor Robert W. “Bobby” George, Jr. He won first place in local, District 6 and Georgia VFW and Auxiliary competitions for “Teacher of the Year.” George has taught in Toombs County Schools for 31 years. He has been teaching at VHS for the past three years. In his application for the competition, George noted that he has been blessed to be able to help students appreciate their American citizenship and to make a positive impact on their country. Also recognized at VHS was Hunter Loosberg, a 10th grader and trumpet player In the school band at VHS who played taps at VFW events in the past few months.

IN APPRECIATION — Vidalia High School sophomore and band member Hunter Loosberg received recognition from Shirley Curl, President of the Lyons/Vidalia VFW Auxiliary #3563, above left, for playing “Taps” at VFW Auxiliary events in the past several months.Photo by Deborah Clark

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNER — Riley Toole, a student at Vidalia Heritage Academy, received VFW and VFW Auxiliary awards last week for winning first place at local and district levels and second place at the state level in the “Voice of Democracy” essay contest. Shown above, from left, are Dean Rokoskie, Commander, VFW Post #10825; Tony Toole, Riley’s father; Riley; Shirley Curl, President of the Lyons/Vidalia VFW Auxiliary #3563; and Jeff McCormick, headmaster at Vidalia Heritage Academy.Photo by Deborah Clark