Post Homes

What is the Flag Essay Contest?

The essay should be between 75 and 150 words in length on "What the Flag Means To Me."

Eligibility

The Flag Essay Contest is open to all area 5th grade students.

How Do I Compete?

The American Legion Fifth Grade Flag Essay Contest begins at the local level and continues through to District and State finals. Approximately 180-200 students participate yearly in the Marion Post #298 contest. One winners is selected from each school: Linn Mar, Marion Independent, Marion Home School Offices and St. Joseph's School. These essays locally advance to District competition. The 1st place winner in each of Iowa's 9 Districts advances to the State final. The top three finalists at State level will be asked to participate in the Department Convention Parade and read their essay at the 2010 Department Convention.

Each student participating is returned their essay and given a 4"x6" mounted desk top flag and a copy of the United States Flag Code. Each classroom represented receives a 2'x3' indoor flag. Students writing winning essays are asked to read their essays to the class in a brief awards ceremony. The six winning entries receive a certificate from Post #298 and a 3'x5' nylon outdoor flag. Winning essays are also printed in the Marion Times Newspaper and move on to District competition.

Entry forms are distributed to the Fifth grade teachers of schools listed above in Mid November. Interested teachers may also contact Post #298 for more information.  Coordinator of the Flag Essay contest is Mr. Gerry Wegmann.

Entry forms are available at Post 298 in the late fall or through your school office.

District Prizes:

The District 1st Place winner will be awarded a $100 savings bond and a Flag that has been flown over the National Capitol on Veterans Day.

The District 2nd Place winner will be awarded a $50 savings bond and a plaque.

The District 3rd through 6th Place winners will be awarded a $50 savings bond.

The student's Social Security Number is needed to issue the Savings Bonds. Awards will be presented to the winners at the Second District Spring Conference noon luncheon. The Winners and their Parents will be guests of the District at the noon luncheon.

What the Flag Means to Me.

The fifth grade students of the Linn Mar and Marion School Districts, which includes Grace Baptist Academy, Marion Home School and St. Joseph’s Catholic recently had the opportunity to express their original and creative thoughts in writing as a personal response to that question. A DVD, titled “For Which It Stands” was provided to each school and a Flag Code Pamphlet made available to each student. The guidelines for the writers were 75 to 150 words, original composition, type-written and attached to an entry form. All entrants receive a 4” X 6” desktop flag.

We were pleased with the response of the students; as we received 190 entries for the 2011 contest.  Greatly appreciated are the fifth grade teachers who educate the youth about our nation’s history and flag. Based on the quality of essays, the fifth grade class room leaders deserve accolades for their thorough job in the education process.

A thank you is extended to our dedicated judges. Bobbi Pipho and Kathy Hughes representing the Auxiliary, Mike Etzel, Roger Norfolk and Gerry Wegmann for the Legion. Their responsibility was to determine the best representative of each participating school. The criteria utilized by the judges were originality, logic, facts/comprehension and grammar/spelling.

The winners listed below receive a certificate, a 3 X 5 nylon flag and advance on to 2nd District Flag Essay competition. All place winner presentations will take place at a special ceremony within their respective school honoring the individuals, attended by their fellow classmates, teachers, administrators and often times family members.

Sriram Satyavolu, Echo Hill

Kyle Holmes, Francis Marion Intermediate

Jessie Grauberger, Linn Grove

John Draker, St. Joseph's

Meleana Holm, Wilkins

A thank you to Darrell Stahl, Post Historian who accompanies the award presentations as the post photographer.

Sriram Satyavolu
Echo Hill School 2011  1st Place

The flag means honor, courage, sacrifice, hard work, determination, independence, dignity and passion.
On Independence Day celebration by honoring our flag we are remembering our founding fathers that fought for our liberty.
When I see the flag draped over a sildier's casket, their courage and sacrifice inspires me.
At the Olympics I look at the waving flag. It shows the hard work, determination, and passion that encourage me.
When I say the pledge, looking at the glorious flag and my heart fills with courage and love.
The flag represents the 13 colonies and our states that are part of our nation. The flag teaches me to preserve the values and responsibilities for many years to come.

Kyle Holmes
Francis Marion Intermediate 1st Place 2011

When I look at the U.S. flag, I think of when my Grandpa served in Korean War and all the soldiers who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, Viet Nam and Korean Wars protecting our country. I, also, think about all the soldiers who are giving up their lives and gave their lives in Afghanistan to protect our country. Everytime a veteran dies, an American flag is draped over his/her casket to show gratitude for serving in the U.S. Military. Then, it is folded up gently and neatly and handed to a family member. When I look at the flag, I think of all fifty states and the original thirteen colonies. Also, I think of protection by the military, comfort, and pride. I am very proud I am an American.

Jessie Grauberger
Linn Grove 2011  1st Place

We all know that our country is free, but I think that sometimes we just take it for granted. Some people sing the "stars-spangled banner" and say the "pledge of allegiance" over and over and never once really think about what it means. Well, I'm not one of those people. When I look at the flag or any other symbol of our nation I feel safe. Because I know that so many people are risking they're lives for me, my family, and everybody else. When I see the stars on the flag representing the fifty states I see how they are together. All close to the next one. And that's how it is with the real states. Maybe not physically, but it's like were one big family, and everybody's welcome. When I look at the flag I see the unity of this country.

John Draker
St. Joseph 2011 1st Place

The flag is peace. The flag is hope for the soldiers in the war. The flag is love and grace for the families that have family members serving for our country. Thirteen stripes and fifty stars represent thirteen colonies and fifty states on our flag. The flag is one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We respect our flag and raise it high. When a flag is worn down it is respectfully burned in a ceremony done by professionals. After a major tragedy the flag is raised at half staff.

Melaena Holm
Wilkins School 2011  1st Place

To me the American flag means freedom and rights. It means a miracle after bombing and destruction. It means the star spangled banner being written by Francis Scott Key a song that inspired others. It means Martin Luther King Jr. standing at the Lincoln Memorial giving the speech "I Have a Dream." It means Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation. To mean the American flags means the America we have. To me the American flag is what helped us fight for what we believeand for what we believe is right. To me the American flag is what gives us hope in dark times and what gives us light in the dark.