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Community Corner

Middle School Essay Contest Honors Veterans

Winning student rides in the annual Connecticut Veterans Parade on Nov. 4.

 

There's still time for Connecticut middle school students to enter a contest to express what the heroism and commitment of American veterans mean to them. The top winner of the contest will ride in the 13th annual Connecticut Veterans Parade on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012.

All Connecticut 6th, 7th and 8th graders may enter the statewide essay contest that salutes the contributions of U.S. veterans. The Navy League of the United States – Hartford Council and the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs are sponsoring this special project to encourage middle school students to learn more about the heroism and importance of American servicemen and women throughout our nation’s history.

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Entrants will write a one-page essay entitled “What It Means to be a Veteran.” A panel of judges will select one top essay winner and two runners-up.

The contest is one of the components of the 13th annual Connecticut Veterans Parade to be held in Downtown Hartford, Conn. on Sunday, November 4 (one full week before the national observance of the holiday) starting at 12:30 p.m. The annual procession is New England’s largest veterans parade and one of the largest salutes to veterans in the entire U.S.

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To be eligible to enter the 2012 Connecticut Veterans Parade Essay Contest, candidates must:

  • Be a 6th, 7th or 8th grade student for the 2012-2013 school year;
  • Be a legal resident of the State of Connecticut;
  • Limit entries to one entry per person;
  • Write an original essay entitled: “What It Means to be a Veteran.”
  • Limit the essay to 500 words or less; and
  • All essays must be submitted no later than Friday, September 28, 2012.

The entries will be judged by a panel of individuals. The judging criteria are:

  •  Power of the Message of the Essay;
  •  Clarity of Thought;
  •  Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar; and
  •  Overall Comprehension of the Topic.

The First Place Connecticut Veterans Parade Essay Contest Winner will:

  •   Ride with one guest in a special vehicle in the Connecticut Veterans Parade    on Sunday, November 4; in Hartford;
  •  Be honored at a special ceremony in the Connecticut State Capitol’s Hall of  Flags on Tuesday, October 30 at 4 p.m. where he/she will read the winning  entry to the audience;
  •  Receive a U.S. flag that has flown over the Connecticut State Capitol  Building; and
  •  Receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Navy League of the U.S.– Hartford Council.

Two Contest Runners-Up will each be honored at the special ceremony in the Connecticut State Capitol’s Hall of Flags on Tuesday, October 30 at 4 p.m. where they will read their winning entries to the audience.

Essay contest entry rules and applications are available on-line at both www.ctveteransparade.org or at www.ct.gov/ctva, or by calling (860) 653-4484. The deadline for entries is Friday, September 28, 2012.

To register to march or volunteer in the Connecticut Veterans Parade, visit www.ctveteransparade.org or call the “Parade Info Phone” at (860)-986-7254.

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