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Submitted by Richard McIntire, VFW Post 3990 in Paris, TX
On 17 February, VFW District 12 had its quarterly meeting in Sulphur Springs. Region 12 has 11 posts across East Texas. Each year, the VFW gives a Teacher of the Year award to a teacher who has demonstrated patriotism to this country by participating in civic events and programs.
Ms. Norma Wright, a senior government teacher at Paris High School, won first place at post 3990 in Paris, which qualified her for District 12, where she again won first place. Ms. Wright was awarded a plaque from District 12, a check, and one from our local VFW post 3990, totaling $500.
Ms Wright’s civic involvement includes being an associate member of the Marine Corps League and co-coordinator for the Toys-For-Tots program covering Lamar and Red River counties. Ms. Wrigt is also a PFC in the Texas State Guard and assigned to the First Brigade, Third Battalion Bravo Company Greenville, Texas. Ms. Wright set up Paris High School’s first Veterans Day program in 2023 and has started taking her government class to the RRV memorial, where local veterans share their knowledge with students.
Veterans of Foreign Wars also has a Voice of democracy award for 9th to 12th-grade students. Ms. Madeline Green, a Paris High School senior, won at post 3990 Paris with her essay on the voice of democracy and was awarded a $250 check. They awarded Madeline’s essay forwarded to District 12’s competition, where she again took first place and was awarded a check for another $500 and a plaque. Madeline’s essay went to the state level, where she competed against almost 1,800 students from across Texas. District 12 has never had a nominee that made it to the top ten at the state level.
Madeline won 3rd place and was awarded a $7,500 scholarship from the VFW Riders, A bike group made up of VFW members across the state. Ms. Madeline plans to use her scholarship to obtain a degree in Biology with the intent of going pre-med and getting a doctorate in Psychiatry. Ms. Norma Wright and Ms. Madeline Green represented Paris High School and the City of Paris in outstanding fashion.