Some patriotic young Branford students answered the call to describe "What Memorial Day Means to Me" during the annual Captain Thomas Yester 2019 Memorial Day essay contest at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS).

The annual contest is organized by the Branford Veterans Parade Committee with assistance from Branford Public Schools, and supported with gift cards generously sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation (BCF) each year.

This year, a panel of judges selected the ten top student writers from all essays submitted. This week, Branford's 2019 Memorial Day Parade Marshals, Korean War veterans Alex Palluzzi Sr. and Robert Zettergren, joined with Branford Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez (USMC Lt. Col., retired), together with WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds and assistant principal Peter Anaclerio to meet the top essayists at their school with their teachers. The students were presented with gift cards and certificates of merit.

The contest's first and second place prize winners will read their essays during Branford's 2019 Memorial Day ceremony. The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27 on the Branford green, followed by Branford's Memorial Day Parade.

First prize essayist Willie Newton, a fifth grade student, was awarded a $100 Denali gift card. Newton wrote a powerful and poignant essay, which reads, "On Memorial Day our nation honors American men and women who died during the course of combat. As I reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, I think about the brave men and women who selflessly raised their hands and swore to protect our nation from our enemies. I also reflect on the families, friends and comrades who have lost loved ones in defense of our nation. I ponder the children who will never be able to kiss and hug their parent and express their love. I contemplate the empty seat at school plays, sports games, special events and extracurricular activities that represents the absence of a hero or heroine. For me, Memorial Day is a day of ambivalence. While we celebrate the life of those who died during the course of combat, we mourns the loss of loved ones and friends."

Runner up Stacia Comen, also a fifth-grader, received a $75 Denali gift card for her thoughtful essay which reads, "Memorial Day is a day to honor those who sacrificed their lives fighting for our country. All the glossy quartz gravestones of these fighters are more than just gravestone. They are memories of heroes with courage and bravery and each of those heroes means the world to someone. These people aren't famous, but just normal people choosing to fight for us. Memorial Day means to remember the soldiers who gave us the precious gift of freedom."

BCF also sponsored $25 Hornet's Nest gift certificates provided to eight honorable mention winners (including one winner who requested not to share their name or photo for publication). 2019 Memorial Essay Student honorable mention winners included seventh graders Claudia Romano and Morgan Selander and fifth graders Julia Albert, Ishaan Bhawnani, Jordon Greenberg, Jacob Santone and Jordan Watson.

Essay contest chairman and Veterans Parade Committee chair Bill O'Brien said the contest receives tremendous support annually from WIS and Branford Public Schools. He thanked Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez, WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds and WIS assistant principal Peter Anaclerio for their support with the project.

In 2012, the Branford Veterans Parade commitee re-named its annual essay contest in honor of Captain Thomas Yester, a World War II veteran and active committee member who passed away that year. Yester flew more than 60 missions as a B-26 tail gunner. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, and European Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, among other awards.

O'Brien said Yester was committed to helping residents "understand and appreciate the service of veterans of all wars."