A6
Education
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
The best in the West
13-year-old writer pens winning essay on Americanism
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Thirteen-year-old Ame-
lia Hall of John Day was all
smiles Wednesday afternoon
when Sherry Feiger, with the
American Legion Auxiliary,
let her know she won first
place in the Western division
for the Americanism essay
contest.
Feiger, who is the Amer-
icanism essay co-chair with
Jessie Lewis, waited to share
the news with Hall until she
could present a certificate of
award in person with her par-
ents Dr. Dave Hall and Alicia
Hall present.
Amelia earned first place
in Division III for grades
7-8 last spring in the local
auxiliary’s Ellis Tracy Unit
77, and her essay went on to
win first in the statewide con-
test for her division before
moving on to the regional
win.
This year’s essay question
was “What can I personally
do to promote Americanism
in my school and communi-
ty?”
Hall, who will be an
eighth-grader at Grant Union
Junior-Senior High School,
said one area of inspiration
for writing the essay was
thinking of veterans in her
family, including a grandfa-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Americanism essay contest chairman Sherry Feiger, left, presents Amelia Hall with a
certificate of award Wednesday, Aug. 8, for winning first place in the Western division
contest. Hall, 13, of John Day also won first place locally and first at state for her
division, which includes grades 7-8.
ther and two uncles, as well
as great-grandfathers and
great-uncles.
She said for last year’s
essay she wrote about her
uncle who is on active duty
and whose family moves fre-
quently.
“They were stationed in
Italy for three years,” she
said. “They sacrifice so much
of their time and their home
and family.”
In her essay, Hall notes
some of the small things she
and her family do to show pa-
triotism, including honoring
the flag, being involved in
the community and picking
up litter.
She wrote, “American-
ism is showing gratitude for
the faithful labor of all those
who have fought to keep this
nation free.”
Her idea behind the essay,
she said, was to show how
little things can make a dif-
ference.
“I thought, it’s hard to
do big things for the coun-
try, but you can start with
small acts, then they grow
into a snowball effect,” she
said.
Feiger, who is a retired
first-grade Humbolt Ele-
mentary teacher, said her
first-graders weren’t old
enough to participate in
the contest, but in Feb-
ruary she had a unit on
patriotism.
“(Teachers’) curriculum
has broadened so much that
sometimes you have to leave
things out,” she said. “This
contest gives our teachers
an opportunity to reflect
on our country’s history
and what it means for us
today.”
Hall said she enjoyed re-
ceiving the assignment in
her English teacher Ange-
la Smith’s class last school
year.
“I did a lot of research,
and I thought it was real-
ly interesting to learn about
America’s history,” Hall
said. “It also made me feel a
lot more loyal and proud of
our country while I was writ-
ing it.”
WHAT IS AMERICANISM?
hat is American-
ism? Americanism
to me is showing
loyalty to our beautiful, free
country, America, through our
words, beliefs, and actions.
Americanism is showing our
gratitude for the faithful labor
of all those who have fought
tions, and ideals of the Unit-
ed States. Americanism is a
wonderful, patriotic attribute
that everyone needs to have in
their hearts.
Society today is forget-
ting Americanism. Sadly,
some people refuse to say the
Pledge of Allegiance. This
dishonors our country and
is very disrespectful; they
are disregarding all the hard
work and sacrifices that came
from building our nation up
to what it is now. They are
disgracing our country and
insulting and ignoring all
those veterans, citizens, and
other people who have devot-
ed and sacrificed their lives,
time, families, and so much
more to making America a
safe haven. I stand proud and
tall every day with my hand
firmly over my heart and re-
peat the Pledge of Allegiance
with gratitude and respect.
Some schools have disal-
lowed the privilege of reciting
the Pledge of Allegiance. I am
proud to say that my elemen-
tary, middle, and high schools
all recite the Pledge every
day. I am proud of my 9-year-
Monday - Thursday
7am- 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Mendy Sharpe FNP
Apppointments
available
71663
W
to keep this nation free. It is
remembering those who have
sacrificed so much with their
selfless service and repaying
them by honoring and cele-
brating the wonderful country
we have today. The dictionary
describes Americanism as
an attachment or allegiance
to the traditions, institu-
71665
old brother. Inspired by what
he had learned in Cub Scouts,
he began diligently putting
up the flag every morning in
front of our house and tak-
ing it down every night—no
matter if he is going to be
late for the bus or if he is
tired.
In addition to reciting the
pledge and displaying the
flag, there are many other
things I can do to promote
Americanism, such as getting
involved with my communi-
ty and public services. Even
things as small as picking up
litter is important because it
shows pride in the communi-
ty, which translates into pride
for the country. Raising the
flag every day, reciting the
Pledge, picking up trash, and
encouraging others to show
the same respect are just a
few small, but great, things
I can do to promote Ameri-
canism in my home, school,
and community. I can hon-
estly say that I am proud to
be an American.
I got screened for
colorectal cancer.
You should too.
Grant Union
student wins
first in state
Americanism
essay contest
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Samantha Floyd, 16,
of Canyon City won first
place in the state Ameri-
canism essay state contest
for Division IV, which in-
cludes grades 9-10.
She won the local con-
test, sponsored by the
American Legion Auxilia-
ry Ellis Tracy Unit 77, last
spring.
Floyd will be a junior at
Grant Union when school
starts later this month.
Sherry Feiger, who is
the local essay co-chairman
with Jessie Lewis, present-
ed Floyd with a certificate
of award on Aug. 8, with
Samantha’s parents Greg
and Joelene Floyd present.
This year’s essay contest
included 227 entries from
Grant School District 3 stu-
dents in grades 3-12, Feiger
said, noting there were just
89 entries last year.
In Samantha’s essay, she
wrote about the importance
of each American doing
their part.
“We, as citizens, must be
what we want our country
to be,” she wrote. “Ameri-
ca has been built on many
foundation beliefs, some-
thing that I would consider
as ‘Americanism.’ These
beliefs include: integrity,
hard work, motivation and
the ability to want to better
oneself.”
Floyd wrote her essay
while in English teacher
Kristi Moore’s class.
“I think a lot of times
students don’t take the time
to appreciate the country
because they’re focusing
on their own lives and not
what our country has done
to give them the lives that
they have,” Floyd said. “I
think it’s important to be a
positive example of Amer-
icanism because in this day
and age a lot of people fo-
cus on the negative aspects
of politics when it comes
to our country — there is
so much more than that.”
Jenelle Moulton,
Canyon City, Oregon
According to research, Colorectal Cancer is the second deadliest of its
kind. Screening for colorectal cancer can help you detect and engage
in early intervention and treatment. Most people accept screening
because they are encouraged by someone they know and trust.
The most valuable and
respected source of
local news, advertising
and information for
our communities.
eomediagroup.com
So if you have been screened, please talk about your experience and
encourage others to get screened as well.
1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439
BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7
ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY
COLORECTAL CANCER
MOVIE SCHEDULE AUG 17 - AUG 23
The cancer you can prevent.
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (PG-13)
An exploration of the life, lessons, and
legacy of iconic children’s television
host, Fred Rogers.
FRI-THURS (4:20) 7:20 9:40
THE MEG (PG-13)
After escaping an attack by what he
claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor
must confront his fears to save those
trapped in a sunken submersible.
FRI-SUN
7:00 9:30
MON-THURS (4:00) 7:00 9:30
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG)
A working-class family man, Christoper
Robin, encounters his childhood friend
Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to
rediscvoer the joys of life.
FRI & SAT
(4:10)
9:35
SUN-THURS (4:10) 7:10 9:35
www.TheCancerYouCanPrevent.org
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded campaign
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
73763
By Amelia Hall
Samantha Floyd