Pictured left to right, Jack Fortna sponsored by Fredonia Memorial American Legion Post 59 and Gavin Swanson sponsored by Henry Mosher American Legion Post 638, Falconer.

The Chautauqua County American Legion held its annual Oratorical Contest at the Cassadaga Memorial American Legion Post 1280 on Sunday Dec. 9. The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to help develop deeper knowledge about the Constitution of the United States among ninth through 12th grade High School Students. The Contest started in 1938 and offers over $26,000 in scholarships to the contestants that go on and win the District, State and National competitions. Besides building a deeper knowledge of the constitution the American Legion Oratorical Contest also promotes an understanding of the duties, responsibilities and rights of citizenship.

The winner of this year’s competition is Jack Fortna, a freshman at the Fredonia Central School. Gavin Swanson, a sophomore at the P-Tech School in Dunkirk was an extremely close second. Gavin commutes daily from Jamestown to Dunkirk to attend school. Placing first and second in the Chautauqua County American Legion Oratorical Contest qualifies both young men to compete in the 8th District Oratorical contest which will be held at American Legion Milton J. Brounshidle Post No. 205 Kenmore, NY, on Jan. 13, 2019. The 8th District American Legion is composed over 100 American Legion Posts in the eight Western New York Counties.