5th THROUGH 8th GRADERS: ENTER THE 2007 ESSAY CONTEST!

The Veterans Day Parade Essay Contest Introduction Who Can Participate & Prizes Guidelines for Writing an Essay Deadline for postmarked entry Sample Questions Download Contest Entry/ Veteran Information Form (PDF) Introduction Veterans Day is observed in honor of all who fought to keep the flag of freedom flying over this great land. This year, on Saturday, November 10, 2007 the citizens of Milwaukee will pause to express their gratitude to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces at the 44th Annual Veterans Day Parade. You can make history by entering the Veterans Day Parade Essay Contest. We need you to go out into the community, talk with our veterans and record the story of their experiences and military service to our country. All entries will be bond in a booklet Beginning with our Nation’s struggle for freedom more than 2 centuries ago, approximately 42 million men and women have served this country during wartime periods. Today, there are approximately 24.6 million veterans living in the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; over 18 million (74 percent) of these veterans served during at least one wartime period. The people of the United States of American have much to learn from those who served in our armed forces. Please help preserve this rich and valuable resource for many generations to come. Who can participate and prizes All students in the 5th through 8th grades who are attending public, private or home school. Prizes This year, a special thank you to Ralph A. Ignatowski AMVETS Memorial Post 60 for providing the funds for the savings bonds. The first, second and third place winners at each grade level will ride in the parade and be presented with certificates of honor at a ceremony after the parade. First Place Winners will also receive a flag that has been flown over our nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C. and a $200.00 savings bond. All flags come with a certificate of authenticity. Second Place Winners will receive a $100.00 savings bond and a certificate of honor. Third Place Winners will receive a $50.00 savings bond and a certificate of honor. Back to top Deadline Extended! All entries must be postmarked by Saturday, October 20, 2007 Winners will be notified by phone on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 Back to top Guidelines for Writing an Essay 1. Find someone to write about. Subjects must have served in the United States Armed Forces, which is the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Subjects may have served in war or peace time. Talk to your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, even your neighbors. If you need someone to write about, call the Veterans Day Parade Essay Contest Coordinator Carol Knuth at 414- 461-9285 and she will put you in contact with a veteran willing to share their story. 2. Ask permission from the veteran you have chosen to write about, to submit their story to the Veterans Day Parade Essay Contest. Some veterans may not want to share their experiences. Be polite and ask first. Remember to respect their right to say no. 3. Complete the Veterans Information Form. 4. Talk with the Veteran you have chosen about their experiences in the military. Use the Sample Questions below as a guide. 5. Write a 250-500 word essay about your veterans service to our country. Essays will be judged on content, spelling, grammar and neatness. Essays can be written in ink and in your own handwriting or may be printed. 6. Complete the Essay Contest Entry Form. Attach the completed form to your essay and submit it by October 15, 2007 to: Veterans Day Parade of Milwaukee Essay Contest 9311 West Keefe Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53222-2640 Back to top Sample Questions Why did you join the military? How old were you when you joined? What branch of military service were you in? Why did you join that branch? What unit were you assigned to? What did you do as part of that unit? What was your rank when you enlisted? When you were discharged? How long were you in the service? Where were you stationed? Did you serve in war or peacetime? If war, what war did you serve in? What was it like being in the war? Were you part of any major battles? For example, Pearl Harbor etc. Were you wounded? If so, how and where did it happen? How long did it take for you to recover? Did you receive any medals or special service awards while in the military? What is the most memorable experience of your military service? Back to top Download entry form

 

 

 

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