google-site-verification: google0e93de1451db0204.html



Area student in art contest receives $1,000

By Devon Jones, Sentinel News Staff - 5/11/2022

Erica Zirkelbach of Mount Vernon entered an art piece into a scholarship competition at the VFW Post 2055 Auxiliary in Centralia. After she made it to regionals in the Young American Creative Patriotic Contest, the VFW presented Zirkelbach with a surprise check for $1,000 toward her education.

According to Zirkelbach, the contest seemed like a good opportunity after applying for the St. Louis Holocaust drawing contest through school. Cindy Zirkelbach, the 15-year-old’s mother, shared the artwork, centered on the Holocaust, on Facebook to other friends and family in the VFW, and they recommended the patriotic art contest.
 
Missy Shaw, the Centralia VFW Auxiliary’s secretary, said Erica Zirkelbach had to submit an essay with the sketch she made, that of a family being separated next to a letter. Cindy Zirkelbach said the representation of a letter has the names of Cindy’s father, Stanley Merda, who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, and one of Erica’s great uncles, Charlie Grothoff, who was also a World War II veteran.
 
According to Erica Zirkelbach, both of her father’s uncles served, and Cindy Zirkelbach’s grandfather served in the military as well. Cindy Zirkelbach said her cousin, Benjamin Cash, died as a result of a training accident in Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
 
"At first, I wanted to honor the people in my family who had served. And while I was working on it, I was focused on that, but I wanted it to be special,” Erica Zirkelbach said.
 
Zirkelbach said that the piece took about two months overall to complete, and she is glad the contest offers a chance to showcase patriotism and talents and raise awareness for the VFW. Zirkelbach does not know if she will win first place’s $15,000 prize, but she would like one of the prizes, starting at $500 for seventh place, to go toward her orthodontist schooling.
Zirklelbach said she wants to go to Duke University.
 
Those advancing to the national ranks will be announced by July. There are more than 4,000 applicants nationally each year, according to the VFW Auxiliary.

Post News

Important Info for Post3579 Members

October-November-December 2024

Current Newsletter

Sentry Newsletter July-August-September-2024

Sentry Newsletter July-August-September-2024

District News

Important Info for District 4 Members

VACCC meeting MVRB presentation Don't miss it

A special presentation by the Illinois Attorney Generals Military & Veterans Rights Bureau

WEBINARS YOU DON'T WISH TO MISS

Military and Veterans Rights Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General is kicking off its second annual series of webinars

Statewide News

News & Info from your department

Important deadline make sure that this gets to membership

Next PACT Act deadline: Health care enrollment for Veterans who deployed to combat zones

Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act (MVAA) Webinars

Some really great seminars get your post & District a jump start

National News

Important info from National VFW

A Thanksgiving Message from the VFW

WASHINGTON - This Thanksgiving, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) encourages Americans to reflect and be thankful for the life we...

VFW Joins TikTok's 'Veteran Voices' Initiative

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the launch of