Helena Hosseini impressive journey comes to an end, achieving an admirable 2nd
place overall, when she competed in the Department Oratorical Contest, during the Spring
Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth, Virginia. The event was overseen by
Department Commander Sonnie Dickerson and National Commander Daniel Sheehafer.
The Department of Virginia’s Oratorical Contest crowned Marisa Parikh, sponsored by
Bedford Post 54, as the winner. Marisa, a high school senior, will represent the Department
of Virginia at The American Legion’s National Oratorical Contest from May 17-19 at
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. Marisa credited her success to the guidance of
Jim Morrison, Post 54’s Children & Youth Chairman, and Post 54’s Commander Nick
Soukhamov, along with the support from her parents