Ludden presents Blair with donation

Hailey Ludden, right, presents $100 to Keith Blair at a fundraiser for Blair and his wife.

Ludden, a fifth-grader at Pekin Elementary School won the $100 in an essay contest in January on “What the Flag Means to Me.” Ludden’s essay was selected as the best in fifth-grade, and for that she received $100 from the American Legion.

After receiving the money, Hailey decided to donate the money back to the American Legion to help local veterans in need. The Legion told Hailey about a local veteran, Keith Blair and his wife, who had lost their house to a fire in December.

A fundraiser dinner was held for Keith and Elaine Blair at the Carl Craft Civic Center in Hedrick in February. Hailey presented the $100 to the couple at the dinner.