In 1982, while I was attended Beltsville Elementary as a first grader, I participated in a drawing contest sponsored by the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department, where I drew something about the importance of preventing fires.
I won third place, got a trophy, and got my picture taken in the Beltsville News, which at the time I thought was the biggest paper in the world.
Not satisfied with third place, I stormed back in 1983 with a second place finish. I missed the photo shoot that year because my parents brought me late, and I still haven’t forgiven them for that.
My family moved to Montgomery County in late 1983, which clearly stopped the award-winning drawing momentum I developed.
So here they are, the trophies. Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary 1983 Fire Prevention Poster Contest – 2nd place, and the 1982 third place.
Oddly enough, the Beltsville volunteer fire department helped extinguish my 2008 home fire. This happened despite my artwork, which clearly had no influence over a careless neighbor who lit a candle in her bathroom next to an aerosol can.
