Oleksy wins Voice of Democracy competition

FRANKLIN — Ryan Oleksy, a senior at Wallkill Valley Regional High School, has been honored as the winner of the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars District 21 annual Voice of Democracy audio essay contest.
The theme of this year’s essay was “My Responsible to America”. VFW Chairman Donald E. DeVore and Commander Stephen L Davis, Jr., presented him with 2 plaques and 2 scholarship checks. His first award is from District 21 Sussex County and the second was from Ogdensburg Post #10152. The awards luncheon was held at Post #8441 in Vernon where Ryan read his winning essay.
He also was invited and attended the State Voice of Democracy dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison with his family where he was recognized for being District's 21 winner, along with the other 20 district winners.
The Oleksy brothers have been District 21 winners for the Voice of Democracy audio contest for the past three years. Ryan’s older brother, Austin, was the winner in 2015 with his essay “Why Veterans are Important to our Nation’s History and Future.” Ryan’s winning essay last year was “My Vision for America”.