Local Dar chapter seeks essays

Alittle history can take you a long way, especially if you are a national winner of the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest.

Beverly Shreeve, chairman of the American History Essay contest for the chapter, is looking for students in Fannin, Towns and Union Counties, grades 5 through 12, to write about history and possibly go all the way to Washington, D.C., to the national winner's circle.

The local essay contest is sponsored by the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter of the DAR, but winners may progress to compete in the district, state and national contests, sponsored by the national DAR.

Last year, the local 7th grade winner, Aaron Harrison, from Union County Middle School, went on to win at the Northeast Georgia District level.

There are two separate contests: one for students in grades 5-8 and another for students in grades 9-12.

The first essay contest is open to local students in grades 5 through 8 in public , private

and parochial schools, and is also open to home school students. The subject of the essay is "Jamestown Colony is Settled," about people who settled in Jamestown in 1607. Next year, marks the 400th anniversary of the settlement, and the essay contest asks writers to take on the persona of an early settler. Then, write a letter to a family member who remained in England, telling them about activities and hardships in establishing the settlement, including information about fellow settlers.

Fifth graders who choose to enter the contest will need to write a 300 to 600-word essay, and students in grades 6, 7 and 8 need to write 600 to 1,000 words.

The second essay contest is open to students in grades 9-12, again in public, private, parochial and home schools. The topic is "At Sea or At Home: Different Perspectives on the Voyage to the New World." Writers should take the view of an ordinary seaman; Queen Isabella; or a shipboard rat. Essays should be no longer than 750 words. The DAR is very involved

with patriotic education for students and encourages it. It seems that George Washington is leaving the history books while Elvis and Madonna are in. This is what the DAR is fighting. The essay contests are ways the Daughters of the American Revolution in North Georgia, and nationally, try to inspire and motivate young historians.

The local contest will award certificates for winners and participants.

The national sponsor of the Christopher Columbus essay is the Italian American Foundation. The national winner will receive a cash award, and a paid trip to Washington, D.C., to read his or her essay at the Columbus Memorial on Columbus Day in 2007.

The national winner of the Jamestown essay will also receive a certificate, gold pine and a monetary award presented at the DAR Continental Congress in Washington, D.C in July 2007.

Guidelines are available from teachers in Fannin, Union, and Towns counties or from Mrs. Shreeve at 706-8969850 or bcsfla@aol.com.