SARATOGA SPRINGS — Lake Avenue Elementary School’s fifth grader Elena Evans is this year’s winner of the Saratoga Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Flag Essay Contest.
The DAR, which was founded in 1890 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving American History, promoting patriotism and influencing the education of children throughout the United States. Members of this organization are women with proven lineage connected to a patriot of the American Revolution.
Each year, to expand education to young students, the DAR has an annual American History essay contest open to students in grades five through eight. A topic is selected, and each chapter will award a student from each grade and submit the essays to be judged. Evans read her essay at the April meeting of the Saratoga Chapter DAR.
Elena will receive her award certificate at Lake Avenue Moving Up Ceremony in June. Below, you can read Evan’s winning essay, “What the Flag Means to Me.”
"What the Flag Means to Me"
By: Elana Evans
By: Elana Evans
The flag of the United States of America means to me freedom, independence and loyalty and also courage, from the first day of landing on this land to fighting for our own country. On June 14, 1777, the second Continental Congress authorized the use of a new flag to symbolize the newly formed United States of America, it means to me that we are independent from other countries.
The red in our flag represents courage - the courage of our forefathers who fought for their independence, the courage of our patriots who died for their country, and the courage of all the brave men and woman who helped to build our nation, this means to me to be strong and brave.
The white stands for the liberty - the spirit of America, the freedom we all have, the choices we can make independently, this all means to me to treat everyone the same wherever we are.
Blue, true blue, is the color that stands for loyalty for all Americans to their country and their Constitution, to their fellow citizens and to their family and friends, this means to me to be loyal to all the truths in this country or anywhere else.
Raising our Flag is a symbol of our country and our freedom. The flag has been raised in battle, at events symbolizing our accomplishments, and lowered during times of great sadness. It reminds us of the sacrifices and achievements many people had made for our country, for example, United States Marines raised the flag at Iwo Jima(eewojeema), a famous battle during World War 2 in 1945, on the other hand, Apollo 14 commander Alan Shepard placed the United States flag on the moon in February 1971, also, flags are flown half-staff to honor someone who has died, such as a president. Raising our flag is a symbol of our country and our freedom.
The flag of the United States of America means to me freedom, independence, loyalty, and courage.
