On Sept. 4 former Local 11 Union President Mike Castaneda presented a check to the VFW Post 3335 of Jay, VOD/Patriots Pen Chairman Palmer Hebert and its VFW Ladies Auxiliary VOD/Patriots Pen Chairman Lynn Dunton, National Counsel Woman, with a donation of $500 to go towards their Patriots Pen Program. The program encourages young people who are at a junior high school level to write essays according to the current year’s theme, which is chosen by the VFW National Headquarters. The program gives students opportunities to earn scholarship money by writing essays with patriotic themes. The Voice Of Democracy Program consists of high school level students writing patriotic essays, also with the opportunity to earn scholarship money.