After receiving essays from students across the 59th Senate District, State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) has announced the winners of his Veterans Day essay contest, an initiative to increase awareness of the importance and meaning of Veterans Day.
Two winners were selected from this year’s submission by a veteran from the 59th District: Will Smiley, an 8th grader from Lick Creek; and Sarah Flick, a 7th grader from Vienna.
“Veterans Day is the time of year that we remember the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country,” said Fowler. “To me, this essay contest is a way to honor the legacy of our military personnel and also give a younger generation a chance to reflect on the purpose of Veterans Day, and the true sacrifices that come with protecting our nation and our freedoms.”
This year’s contest was open to 7th-grade and 8th-grade students throughout the 59th District, prompting students to write an essay explaining the history of Veterans Day and the importance of celebrating the day each year.
“While all the submissions this year were well-received and thoughtful, two winners had to be chosen, and Will and Sarah did a great job explaining the importance and legacy of Veterans Day. Their essays were well-written and stood out,” said Fowler. “I’m extremely proud of the work I saw submitted from the kids of our communities, and hope that this contest inspired some of our young people to reflect on the importance of honoring our veterans.”
The winning essays are featured on the Senate Republicans Veterans Day display in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, a tribute to the military service and sacrifice of all veterans in Illinois.
Both students will have the opportunity to serve as a “page-for-the-day” with Senator Fowler, either in his district office in Harrisburg or in Springfield on a day that the Legislature is in session.
The winning essays can be found by visiting Sen. Fowler’s webpage, senatorfowler.com.