Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander Wayne D. Perry and National VFW Commander-in-Chief William J. “Doc” Schmitz honored Lillian Baird of Leola as the state Voice of Democracy winner at the Midwinter Conference Feb. 1 in Gettysburg.

The following students also placed: Gabriella Ritter, District 13, Alburtis, second; Jace Izellah Mary, District 8, Whitehall, third; Victoria Waite, District 22, Roaring Spring, fourth; Liam Dicken, District 26, Rochester Mills, fifth.

“You are all winners,” Perry said. “You are our country’s future and we thank you all for competing for this honor.”