Four Youth Win Awards in Americanism Essay Contest

Four students at Turner Public School (TPS) were honored in a ceremony during the lunch hour on Wednesday, March 5 for their essay writing. Brenda Maloney, Vice President of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 109 of Turner, presented Fourth Grader Lucy Grabofsky, Sixth Grader Isley Welsh, Eighth Grader Savannah Heilig, and Sophomore Abby Grabofsky with First Place certificates and cash prizes in the 2025 Americanism Essay Contest. Each winner also received a cupcake decorated in white roses, blue flowers, and red stars made by Sarah Cowan.

Every year, the ALA sponsors an Americanism Essay Contest for students in grades 3-12, including students with special needs. Grade levels are divided into six classes with one winner being named in each category. At the elementary level, Class I is for writers in grades three and four, while Class II denotes grades five and six. In the junior high and high school, Class III designates students in grades seven and eight, Class IV captures ninth and tenth graders, Class V represents juniors and seniors, and Class VI encompasses students with special needs. With essays due on February 24, this year's topic invited writers to explore the question: What does America the Beautiful mean to me, regarding veterans and our military?

To take top honors in Class II, Welsh wrote: "I think that America the beautiful does not just mean that the land is beautiful. It means the sacrifices that our veterans made for us is what is beautiful. They left their families and friends for us. Everything they did was for 'we the people.'"

She went on to say, "Some people might think that not all veterans deserve full credit because they did not spend all of their time in a battle, but I think that all veterans deserve the same amount of respect. That is why I think that we should honor everyone who served. They are part of what makes America beautiful."

In gaining her recognition in Class III, Savannah Heilig describes beauty as: "Rolling stretches of hills, a scarlet and gold dawn peeking over the horizon, red, white, and blue flags adorning buildings all over our country; these are the images that flash into my mind when I hear 'America the Beautiful.' But if we search deeper into the hearts of American soldiers, we find the beauty that freed us all. Having marched into the chaos of battle with the knowledge that each gunshot and explosion could have meant another comrade or themselves falling, America's military began the battle that changed our future. With hearts of gold and heads held high, they are the sole reason that each individual person and state has rights. Withy loyalty, patriotism, and liberating strife, our soldiers set forth to pay freedom's heavy price."

Finally, Abby Grabofsky captured the judges' notice with her words that included: "As Katherine Lee Bates describes throughout her poem 'America the Beautiful,' America is blessed to have beauty obvious in our 'spacious skies,' 'pilgrim feet,' and 'heroes who more than self their country loved.' However, beauty is also in our country's cruel, dark, and ugly portions. Beauty exists in war, pain, and loss. Our selfless military men and women represent a perfect showcase of this beauty. Their generous sacrifices, their fearless actions, and their endless devotion to America, even in the midst of war with death coming at them from all angles, demonstrate beauty. Our soldiers continually choose to lay down their lives for the betterment of their country. That is true beauty."

Each of the writers received an award certificate and a check for $50.00. In addition, a $50.00 donation in each of their names will be made to the Children of Warriors National President's Scholarship fund.

The four writers will now advance to the next level of competition where they will compete with other state placers. Department winners and their essays are then forwarded on to the National Americanism Division Chairman by April 15. Following the ALA convention, national winners will be posted at http://www.ALAforVeterans.org.

Maloney thanked all of the students for work and words. "As always, you have done a great job on your essays. Unfortunately, we can only choose one paper from each Class to go on for further judging, so the task is not always an easy one, as so many of the essays represent good ideas. We appreciate you for participating in the Americanism Essay Contest."