Geneva Lake VFW conducts annual Christmas party and awards dinner
The Geneva Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2373 recognized several residents for their contributions to the community during the organization’s annual Christmas party and awards dinner Dec. 2.
The ceremony, at Cafe Calamari, 10 E. Geneva St. in Williams Bay, include the presentation of the Teacher of the Year Award, Voice of Democracy Award and two Community Service awards.
Krista Bensheimer, an English teacher at Faith Christian School in Williams Bay, received the Teacher of the Year Award.
Geneva Lake VFW Post 2373 Commander Ronald Grabski presents Krista Bensheimer with the Teacher of the Year Award.
Post Commander Ronald Grabski said Bensheimer encourages her students to participate in the VFW’s Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy scholarship contests, the Geneva Lake VFW’s Memorial Day parade and Veterans Day ceremonies in Edgewater Park.
“Two years in a row, we’ve had more entries from Faith Christian School than all the other schools in our area combined,” Grabski said.
Krista Bensheimer, from left, Ronald Grabski and Flavia Valadez pose for a picture after the Geneva Lake VFW’s annual Christmas party and awards dinner.
Flavia Valadez, a ninth-grade student at Faith Christian School, was presented with the Voice of Democracy Award.
She received $100 and her audio essay now moves onto the district level. The winner of the national award receives a $35,000 scholarship.
Flavia Valadez, third from left, received the Geneva Lake VFW’s Voice of Democracy Award. She is pictured with Geneva Lake VFW Post 2373 Commander Ronald Grabski and her parents Manual and Angelica Valadez.
William Duncan received a Community Service award for his involvement with Williams Bay and George Williams College. Duncan served as Williams Bay’s village president for about eight years.
“He was the driving force in setting up Outdoor Ed at George Williams, a program for elementary school students from Wisconsin and Illinois to spend time learning about environmental issues,” Grabski said.
Former Williams Bay Village President William Duncan, right, is presented with a Community Service award. Also pictured are Geneva Lake VFW Commander Ronald Grabski and Liz Duncan.
William Reece also received a Community Service award for his volunteer work at the Valley of the Kings Sanctuary & Retreat Center in Sharon.
“He does repairs, tends to the animals and promotes the efforts of the Valley of the Kings,” Grabski said.
Reece also refurbishes bicycles and donates them to children in need. He has donated about 40 bicycles this year.
William Reece, second from left, was honored with a Community Service award from the Geneva Lake VFW during the organization’s annual Christmas party and awards dinner Dec. 2. Reece is pictured with Geneva Lake VFW Post 2373 Commander Ronald Grabski, his wife, Jan Reece, and his mother, Barbara Reece.
During the ceremony, Geneva Lake VFW members donated $250 to Reece to purchase helmets to go along with the bicycles.
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Grabski said one of the organization’s major accomplishments was receiving a $5,000 grant from the Geneva Lake Women’s Association in April.
“It was used for expenses not covered by the Veterans Service Office or Veterans Affairs Office,” he said. “Items covered ranged from necessary emergency travel, transportation to and from medical appointments, home appliance and car repairs and medical copays, and sometimes with the help of rent and temporary housing.”
The Geneva Lake VFW also was recognized as an “All-American” post by the National VFW organization this year, becoming the first post in Wisconsin’s first district to receive the honor for three consecutive years.
Krista Bensheimer, from left, Ronald Grabski and Flavia Valadez pose for a picture after the Geneva Lake VFW’s annual Christmas party and awards dinner.
Post members, along with American Legion Post 102, also supplied military honors at several funerals this year.
Geneva Lake VFW Post 2373 serves Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Genoa City and town of Linn.
For more information, visit www.genevalakesvfw.org.
Representatives from the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District conducted their annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 28 …
