Clarksville, Tenn. – Vanessa Flores, a senior at Montgomery Central High School, earned the top honor in the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville’s Interview a Veteran essay contest. Her heartfelt piece celebrated the sacrifices of her mother, Kimberly Ortiz, who served twenty years in the United States Army.
Family legacy of service
Ortiz spent most of her career stationed at Fort Campbell, working in electronic equipment maintenance repair. She completed deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and later to Germany and Poland. “I was in electronic equipment maintenance repair,” Ortiz recalled. “I’ve been to Iraq and Afghanistan and that last deployment, I was in Germany and Poland.”
Growing up with a mother frequently away on duty, Flores says the experience shaped her view of freedom and patriotism. “She’s been in the military my whole life, so I’ve always seen it in a certain way other people don’t,” she explained.
Essay contest draws thousands of entries
The Kiwanis Club of Clarksville organized the Interview a Veteran Essay Contest to encourage young people to reflect on the contributions of veterans. The competition attracted 7,089 submissions from students across Clarksville Montgomery County Schools. Flores emerged as the grand winner among the high‑school entries.
Reading from the heart
At the awards ceremony, Flores stood before a crowd of community members and read her essay aloud. She wrote, “Growing up, American freedom has always felt natural, like breathing. To a civilian child, freedom is a birth right, a blanket of security. It always exists. For a long time, I viewed my mother’s job in the United States Army through the same distant lens. It was merely her job. Back then, I only saw this as a personal loss. Now I realize her absence as protection, a sacrifice that my brother and I would grow up safe and free. For me, freedom has a face, and it belongs to my mother. Because of her, I know freedom isn’t an inheritance to be taken for granted. Thank you, mom, for everything you have sacrificed for me and the country. I love you.”
Community response
Kimberly Ortiz expressed pride in her daughter’s achievement. “I’m super proud of her! I’ve never read anything she’s written, so this is a little surprising to me,” she said.
Local leaders and Kiwanis members praised the contest as a powerful reminder of the values of service, family, and gratitude. The event underscores the strong ties between Clarksville’s youth and the veteran community, reinforcing the town’s tradition of honoring those who have defended American liberty.
Encouraging future storytellers
Flores’ success illustrates that students need not consider themselves professional writers to make an impact. “You don’t have to feel like you’re a born writer just as long as you can speak straight from the heart,” she advised fellow participants.
The Kiwanis Club plans to continue the essay contest in future years, inviting more young voices to share their perspectives on the sacrifices made by service members and their families.
Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
