The American Legion, The Department of Iowa, Post 298  

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. Six winners are selected from all entries received from Linn Mar, Marion Independent, Marion Home School Offices and St. Joseph's School. The top 6 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 2006 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. Jerry 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.

2006 Flag Essay Contest winners

Linn Mar and Marion Independent as well as Indian Creek and St. Joseph's Catholic School entered essays in the 2006 American Legion Flag Essay Contest. Fifth graders from these schools wrote a 75 to 150 word essay on "What the Flag Means to Me." There were 231 entries this year. Students were both diligent and creative as they expressed their deep feelings about our nations flag.

From this years entries 6 are advancing to District competition. These winners include:
1st: Tanisha S. Roach from Francis Marion Intermediate
2nd: Joshua Hewitt from Saint Joseph's School
3rd: Lauren Lamb from Indian Creek Elementary
4th: David Smith from Oak Ridge Elementary
5th: Matthew Roundy from Indian Creek Elementary
6th: Melissa Chayer from Novak Elementary School

All students who entered the contest received a 4"X6" mounted desk flag and a flag etiquette pamphlet. A 2'X4' indoor flag will be presented to each participating classroom teacher along with our thanks for taking the time and effort to teach our area children about the heritage that our flag represents.

Mary Clapp, Children and Youth Chairperson
Gerald Wegmann, Essay Contest Coordinator

Tanisha S. Roach
Francis Marion Intermediate
Mrs. Bullard's Class

What the Flag Means to Me

When I look at the flag, I think about people that made a difference like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln, and Harriet Tubman. Martin Luther King Jr. made a famous speech, Abraham Lincoln stopped slavery, Rosa Parks did a bus boycott, and Harriet Tubman freed a lot of slaves.
I also think about my freedom. Because of these people, I have an education and I can do things that black people couldn't do before. I am very thankful for that. I now have the right to speak what I think. I can get what job I want. I can also live where I want. I could run for President.

Joshua Hewitt
St. Joseph School
Ms. M. Cepowski's Class

What the Flag Means to Me

The American flag is very important to me. It stands for all the blood that was lost, all the dedicated men and women, and the tremendous amount of hard work. It stands for all the wars that were fought for freedom and safety. It is a symbol of courage to many people, but most importantly it means all fifty states are united, united under God. I know that the fifty stars stand for the fifty states but to me the flag means much more. It means we are safe, we are free, and most of all it means we have a good life. It stands for our skilled veterans; it is because of them we have all that. We are very lucky, we have everything we need, and our f1ag stands for that!

Lauren Lamb
Indian Creek Elementary
Mrs. Hoobler's Class

What The Flag Means To Me!!!

The flag is an amazing work of art. It means so much .to our country. Without the flag our country would have no symbol. Whenever we are down or feeling lonely the flag will raise our spirits. Knowing that this flag is representative of our country, a symbol of freedom, and hope, makes me as an American proud. We can also say that this flag for other countries is a sign of freedom, and more importantly a sign of opportunity. The American flag to me is a sign that means freedom as a girl. I can do anything I want in this great country. That is why I am proud to be an American and of its trusty symbol, the flag.

David Smith
Oak Ridge School
Mrs. Stadtmueller's Class

What the Flag Means To Me
The flag means that America is free. When I see the stars on the flag it makes me remember the 50 states that it stands for. The flag makes me remember that citizens are able to vote for our presidents. I like that we can be involved in our government. When I see the flag I remember the men and women in the war fighting for us and the men and women that won our freedom. The stripes stand for the freedom that started in the 13 colonies and is now in the 50 states. I am happy for freedom but I am sad that some of the people that were in the war died. But we will not forget them. That is what the flag means to me.

Matthew Roundy
Indian Creek Elementary
Mrs. Hoobler's Class

What the flag means to me

About 10 months ago, I learned some interesting news. My brother was joining the National Guard. At first it didn't mean anything to me, but when I went down to Missouri to watch my brother graduate from the 9 month training camp I saw a video that changed my opinion forever. The video talked about how people have shed their blood defending the flag. After I saw that video, I realized that the flag represented everything and everybody in America. So after I realized that, I now have this opinion; the f1ag is not just a piece of material, it is America.

Melissa Chayer
Novak Elementary
Mrs. Lange's Class

What the Flag Means to Me

You shine gracefully down on us. We pray for you in our dreams. You give us strength and you give us hope. We will cherish you forever. You will never fade away. You will always have a place in our hearts. We believe in you, and we will be the best we can and try our hardest. We will remember you forever and ever. You are our treasure and we will never let you go.

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