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 Terwilliger and Manuel honored in Elks
Americanism Essay Contest
The Canajoharie/Fort Plain Elks Lodge 2621 announced that two
Canajoharie Middle School students took top honors in the BPOE's
annual Americanism Essay Contest. Sixth grader Devin Manuel was
Division I (grades 5 and 6) winner and eighth grader
Stephanie Terwilliger won Division II (grades 7 and 8).
Lodge 2621 Americanism Chairman Thomas Yager and
Lodge Treasurer Carl Swartz visited Canajoharie Middle School on
Friday, March 14, to honor the winners and all participants.
Everyone received a certificate, an American flag magnet, and a
patriotic glider in appreciation for this or her efforts. The
Elks also awarded special plaques to the first place winners.
Several Canajoharie language arts teachers
embraced the contest as a special classroom assignment. In the
end, over 60 Canajoharie fifth through eighth grade students
shared their views what it means to be an American.
Mr. Yager said he was very pleased with
Canajoharie's participation. Although the contest is open to all
area schools, Canajoharie accounted for 75 percent of the
participants.
What Is An
American? (first place)
by Stephanie Terwilliger
What is an American? These United States are all about God,
family, and our country. We are slowly forgetting that. An
American should be proud to live in America. Not to be ashamed
of what they think is right. What is an American?
Sacrifice was made for our freedom. Men and women died for that
right. Currently we are sacrificing to give another country
freedom. What is an American? An American is free. We have
freedom to pursue our dreams. In our country women have rights.
Rights to vote, to have an education. People had to sacrifice
for the rights that some people take for granted. An American
sacrifices. Respect.
Respect for our flag. Respect for our country. Students say The
Pledge of Allegiance. Do they understand what it means? The
PledRe is what the United States of America is all about! "..
.Liberty and justice for all". There must be respect for these
rights. We shouldn't be ashamed, or forget to put out the
American flag. An American is respectful.
Responsibility; to make a difference in this country. Some
Americans serve in the armed forces to show responsibility,
those who choose not to, should vote. All citizens aged 18 and
up have a voice and should be heard. There is no excuse not to
vote. Do we as Americans
fulfill these traits? Do we make sacrifices? Are we respectful?
Responsible? Not always.
"Let us remember our history and what it is to be an American."
 What is an American (second
place) by Devin
Manuel To be an American is to be someone with
freedom. For example to have freedom is to have the right to
vote and to not be a slave. To be an American is also to be
proud of their culture. If you don't like someone because of
their color you're not American. An American is also someone who
doesn't drop out of school or quit when the going gets tough.
An American is someone who is proud of their job and works hard
to do it well, and sticks with it until the end. Even if he does
dislikes it he sticks with it until the very end. An American is
also someone who has lived in America for seven years or more.
The last thing I think an American is not someone afraid to show
their true feelings. In this Essay I mainly wrote
about what I think an all day American is and if I could put it
all in one word it would be someone with freedom.
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