This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/18/2017 07:30 AMWith Veterans Day right around the corner on Saturday, Nov. 11, State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98) is encouraging all local middle school students to participate in an essay contest honoring veterans.
The essay contest is for Guilford and Branford middle school students. The chosen winners will have a chance to read their essays at the Veterans Day ceremonies in their respective towns. All middle school students from grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 to answer the question “Why Should We Thank Veterans?” in 200 words or less. One winner and runner-up will be chosen from each middle school
“This year, I invite Branford and Guilford middle school students to let our local veterans know how much they mean to us by submitting a short essay thanking them for their service,” he said in a statement.
Scanlon said this contest is a good way to get young people involved in thanking veterans and reflecting on the value of their service.
“I thought it was a cool way to both honor our veterans and recognize a few outstanding young people in our community,” he said. “Larry Santamaria organizes the event on the Green each year and I ran it by him and he thought it was a great way to incorporate young people from the town into the event and [Superintendent of Schools] Dr. Freeman agreed. I’m not sure how many essays to expect, but I hope we get a lot to choose from.”
Having never before done an essay contest for this holiday, Scanlon said he thought middle school aged students would be appropriate.
“I felt it was the most appropriate age group to understand the sacrifice veterans made but not too bogged down with schoolwork to take on writing an additional essay like a high school student,” he said.
Scanlon said the contest is optional for students but the winner from Baldwin Middle School and the winner from Adams Middle School get to read their essays at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on the Green.
The annual Veterans Day ceremony is Saturday, Nov 11 at 10 a.m. on the Guilford Green.
All essays are due by Friday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. and should be submitted via email to sean.scanlon@cga.ct.gov or via mail to: Rep. Sean Scanlon, Legislative Office Building, Room 2802, Hartford, CT 06106-1591.