Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review 5-6-16

Local has history of supporting troops VA accepting
by Linda KC Reynolds entries for 2016/17
staff writer
scholarship
When soldiers overseas needed a little entertainment and a break competitions

from reality, musician Barbara Leoni and her all-girl-surf-bands, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
is now accepting entries into the 2016-17 Voice of De-
“California Girls” and “Thunderstruck” did not hesitate to sign up. mocracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship competitions.

Opening for the Beach Boys, The Safaris, Steppin Wolf and oth- The announcement comes just weeks after students
from across the globe took home their share of $3.3
er popular bands was an million in scholarships and awards from last year’s
competitions.
honor, but nothing com-
The VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen
pared to performing for essay competitions are dedicated to encouraging a bet-
ter understanding and appreciation for our great coun-
the military. try and fostering patriotism among our nation’s youth.
Students are asked to submit an essay in response to a
“Our agent asked if we question or statement on a subject which prompts them
to consider how American history and democratic ide-
were interested and we als and principles apply to their lives.

were all on board,” said This year’s Voice of Democracy theme asks students
to explain, “My Responsibility to America.” The Voice
Leoni. of Democracy scholarship competition is an audio-es-
say competition open to students in grades 9-12. The
Soon the band was national winner will receive the $30,000, T.C. Selman
Memorial Scholarship Award.
overseas entertaining the
The Patriot’s Pen competition is open to students
troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, in grades 6-8. This year, students are asked to reflect
on the statement, “The America I Believe In.” The na-
Japan, Korea, Singapore, tional winner will receive a $5,000 award.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Nor- Student participants are asked to submit their entry
(along with a completed entry form) to their participat-
way, Germany, the Pacific ing VFW Post. The deadline for student entries in both
contests is Nov. 1, 2016.
Islands and Diego Garcia.
For more information on the contests, visit www.
“When the Twin Tow- Photograph by Linda KC Reynolds vfw.org/Youth.

ers fell and the Pentagon Barbara Leoni teaches voice lessons to Tess Coraccio, an Air
Force spouse stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. Leoni traveled
was attacked, it became throughout Europe entertaining troops and now teaches voice,
piano and guitar in Rosamond.
even more meaningful to
you think, everyone needs to support the men and woman who are
entertain the troops.” keeping us free.”

Feeling guilty about The USS Carl Vinson was the first aircraft carrier on the scene in
the North Arabian Sea and the first to drop bombs in Afghanistan.
Courtesy photograph having a room in the of-
“The soldiers aboard hadn’t been off the ship in 111 days so we
Barbara Leoni performs during a USO f i c e r ’s q u a r t e r s w h i l e were their first contacts from home.”
tour, traveling throughout Europe, troops were living in fox-
Leoni is now teaching music and voice lessons in her studio in
with her bands “California Girls” and holes and mud, the girls Rosamond with most of her clients coming from Edwards Air Force
“Thunderstruck.” Contracted by the had a new appreciation Base. She also performs around the Antelope Valley with her band,
Department of Defense to entertain for what the military had “Breakfast with Barbie.”
the troops, Leoni said the groups were to endure.
honored to entertain and see first-hand
how troops lived upon aircraft carriers “People have different
and in the field. opinions when it comes
to war, but no matter what

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8 Aerotech News and Review May 6, 2016

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