Twenty First Star Chapter NSDAR Announces American History Essay Contest Winners
The Twenty First Star Chapter of NSDAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) is pleased to announce its winners in this year's American History Essay Contest with the topic: “Forgotten Patriots Who Supported the American Struggle for Independence.” Students were to focus on the often-unrecognized people and groups, including African-Americans, American Indians, French, Spanish, German and others, who provided military, patriotic and public service in support of the American Revolution. They were to explain why it is especially important to honor the unsung heroes and often forgotten Patriots. This year's winners both attend Our Lady of Destiny School in Des Plaines:
8th grade: Christiana von Aulock.
7th grade: Anna Blackburn.
Christiana wrote about Salem Poor who was an African American who served at Bunker Hill. He volunteered to serve in the Revolutionary War in 1775 in a Massachusetts Militia company led by Benjamin Ames. Anna wrote about African American women slaves who played an important role in supporting their families during the Revolutionary War. She also wrote about women slaves who helped out under Lord Dunmore's Proclamation and those women who lived in Lord Dunmore's “Ethiopian Regiment” camp and about Elizabeth Freeman who left her owner in 1781 and asked the Massachusetts courts to state that “all men are free and equal.” Both essays were forwarded to the NSDAR District competition.
In addition to receiving a “Winner Certificate”, each student read her winning essay and received a 21 Star American flag pin, presented by Twenty First Star Chapter member, Linda Andrews of Park Ridge, during an assembly at the school. Each of the seventeen students who submitted an essay for the contest received a Certificate of Participation.
Judging was based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. All grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 students in a public, private, or parochial school, and those who are home schooled were eligible. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, sex, or national origin.
The topic for next fall's contest will be announced later this spring. For further information, please contact DAR Twenty First Star's incoming Historian Jeanette Frye at (847) 692-3718.
Any woman age 18 and older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Our Twenty First Star Chapter provides genealogy research assistance. Please contact Dorothy Wilson at (847) 328-6946 for more information.