City Committee Sponsors First Annual Memorial Day Essay Contest

Memorial Day is dedicated to those who have died in service to their country, from the beginnings of the American Revolution to Afghanistan today.

That seems easy enough to understand – but what does it really mean to those who enjoy the freedoms others gave their lives to preserve?

Especially, what does it mean to those not yet old enough to have yet been asked to consider such a sacrifice?

For the first time, the Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Committee asks that question in a 2012 Memorial Day Essay Contest for middle school students.

The essay theme is "What does Memorial Day mean to me?"

The contest is a new element leading up to the city's annual Memorial Day Ceremony, held this year on May 28 at .

All students enrolled in Wauwatosa schools in grades six through eight, and Wauwatosa residents enrolled in grades six through eight in any public, private or home schools, are eligible.

Students must submit original work in the following format:

• The essay should be 300 to 600 words in English.
• Entries must be typed and double-spaced.
• Each essay should have a title. The title, name, school and phone number of the student should appear on a title page.
• The title should appear as a heading on each page; no name should appear on any page except the title page.
• Essays will not be returned.

Essays may be e-mailed to memday2012@hotmail.com or mailed to: Essay Contest, 6324 Upper Parkway North, Wauwatosa, WI  53213.

Judging:

• An essay must meet the assigned minimum length,  must be submitted following the prescribed format, and must be submitted on or before the due date  in order to be judged.
• Judging will be completed by a panel of qualified judges.
• Judges will not discuss or compare essays being judged until all essays have been judged.
• Only judges can assign a penalty or award points.

Scoring:

• Material Organization (Logical interpretation of the subject, adherence to topic): 40 points
• Vocabulary and Style (Phrasing and continuity): 30 points
• Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling: 25 points
• Adherence to contest rules (prepared in the proper format): 5 points

Awards:

• Awards will be presented to the top three essayists.
• Winners will be contacted by phone and e-mail,  and recognized at the Wauwatosa Memorial Day Ceremony on May 28 2012.
• If available, and by choice, winners will be asked to read their essay at the Wauwatosa Memorial Day Ceremony.

Wauwatosa Patch will publish the winning essays after they are announced on Memorial Day.