Gov. Heineman Recognizes National Winner
of Young American Patriotic Art Award

(Lincoln, Neb.) Photos - Gov. Dave Heineman today recognized Falls City High School senior, Timothy von Behren, 18, who won a national contest for his patriotic artwork in the 2008 Young American Creative Patriotic Art Awards Scholarship Contest.

The annual event is sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States. von Behren’s artwork, titled “A Tribute to Jacob” was selected from 44 entries at the national level. He will receive a $10,000 scholarship for winning this year’s contest.

The colored pencil drawing is composed of images representing the life of Army 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz of Verdon, who died Jan. 20, 2007 in Karbala, Iraq at the age of 25. Jacob was a 2000 graduate of Dawson-Verdon High School and a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was the son of Noala Fritz, who is a biology teacher at Falls City High School.

The drawing features grain representing the portion of Lt. Fritz’s youth spent on family farm, a waterfall representing summers spent as a lifeguard in Falls City, as well as an American Flag and the soldier’s cross.

“This is touching example of a young Nebraskan reaching out to his teacher who lost her son in Iraq,” Gov. Heineman said. “It’s important to honor the memory and the service of those Nebraskans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

The Falls City High School Class of 2009 asked von Behren to develop the piece as a gift to Fritz from the Class of 2009. “A Tribute to Jacob” was entered in the contest by art teacher Patricia Steinman when she submitted it to the Falls City Ladies Auxiliary Post 1765.

von Behren will be presented with the scholarship on Aug. 18 in Orlando during the 2008 VFW and Ladies Auxiliary National Convention. The drawing will be on display throughout the convention and featured on the cover of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Magazine. He will be joined by Noala Fritz. 

Now in its 30th year, the patriotic art award contest encourages high school students to use artistic talents to express their patriotism. It is open to students in grades nine through 12. Entries are judged on factors including originality of concept and clarity of patriotic expression. Teachers, artists and others professionals judge the contest at local, state, district, and national levels. 

More information on the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest is available on the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Web site at http://www.ladiesauxvfw.org.