Students consider patriotism
FOLLANSBEE — Three Brooke High School students reflected on the impact of America’s freedoms on people of all walks of life for an essay contest held by the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce.
The three are: Riley McAllister, who placed first and received $100; and Jewell Cox and Mia James, who each received $50 for tying for second place.
Chamber President Tony Paesano said students in Shelby Wade’s creative writing class at Brooke High School were invited to participate in the contest with the cooperation of Wade and Candice Owens, chairman of the English department, and efforts of chamber members Jeanne Ferrell, Pat Accettolo and Carmel Esposito.
In his poem, “The Torch in Liberty’s Hand,” McAllister notes the migration to America by a diversity of people, the conditions in their homelands that led them to seek a new home, and struggles they endured in their efforts to achieve their goals once here.
He wrote that the Statue of Liberty’s torch “shines” freedom upon people of all ages, economic classes, races and cultures.
McAllister is the son of Charlie and Stacey McAllister.
The daughter of Marie Cox of Weirton, Cox was inspired by the efforts of women in the Greatest Generation for her free verse poem, “To the Women in Battle.”
She writes of the funeral of a matriarch and reflecting on all women who “helped nurse the injured men in the field or labored for long hours to support the men in battle.”
She concluded, “She has made arduous steps toward the future she created for herself, and because of her steps I am able to freely make mine.”
The daughter of Roy and Dawn James of Follansbee, James laments in her poem, “Cliche” that too often the true meaning of patriotism is overlooked on occasions filled with barbecues and fireworks.
She said the spirit of America is demonstrated best by the hard work of Americans in diverse occupations, concluding: “Yes, we are America, land of the free and home of the brave, but we’re also so much more than a few cliches.”
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
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