Our Redeemer's Christian School third-grader Luke Anderson will be spending Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery with his family.
Luke is the grand prize winner in the Paralyzed Veterans of America Veterans Poster Contest with a poster he drew in honor of his great-grandfather, World War II veteran Howard Holten, of Wildrose. His prize for winning the contest was a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and an awards ceremony where Luke will be the guest of honor and his poster will be unveiled.
Luke already knows what Veterans Day is all about.
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Luke Anderson’s poster won grand prize in the Paralyzed Veterans of America Veterans Poster Contest.
"It is a day to honor veterans who served and fought in wars so that we can be free," Luke said.
Luke's poster was one of 350 that were submitted to the organization for the contest. Children were asked to draw a poster in honor of someone in their family or community who is an American veteran. The veteran did not have to be disabled or paralyzed, just someone the child regards as a hero.
Holten served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945 and was stationed all over Europe during his time of service. Holten has been an American Legion member for more than 60 years. Luke has other relatives who also served, including his grandfather Neal Faulkner, formerly of Minot and now of Abbeville, S.C., who served in the Air Force and in the Army Reserves and retired after 23 years of service. Hope Anderson is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and so are Luke's grandmother, Denise Faulkner, and his great-grandmother, Ardy Holten, Wildrose.
"American pride runs deep in our family and we have tried to instill in Luke the same pride," said Hope Anderson. "He understands the sacrifice that American servicemen and women make to afford us the freedoms we so easily take for granted. He stands proudly in the presence of the American flag and understands how important it is to respect our leaders and military personnel past and present."
Hope Anderson said this is the first time that a child from North Dakota has won the poster contest and the family considers it a great honor.