Edenton’s Tea Party Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution earlier this month recognized four middle-school students for their prize-winning American history essays. The chapter, whose members trace their direct lineage back to persons who participated in the American Revolution, also honored two John A. Holmes High School students with its Good Citizen Award Essay Contest Award and Outstanding JROTC Cadet Award.
The students writing for the contest were asked to write an essay, complete with sources, on American composer and conductor John Philip Sousa and his uniquely American patriotic marches, including “Stars and Stripes Forever.” They were asked to write the essay from the point of view of a reporter covering the march’s debut in 1897.
Ella Parson, a fifth-grader at D.F. Walker Elementary School and a resident of Edenton, wrote about why Sousa wrote “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
“After he started the Sousa Band, he took a break and took a trip to Europe with his family, leaving his manager, David Blakely, as bandmaster,” Parson said in her essay. “Sousa got news over a telegram that his manager and good friend, David Bakely, had been found dead in his office. He quickly rushed home to take over the Sousa Band. It was Christmas Day when he was on the boat from Europe, and he composed this ballad in his mind, committing it to notes on paper as he arrived home.”
Aubryn Bunch, a student at Chowan Middle School and winner of the sixth-grade essay prize, chose to write her essay in the form of a news broadcast by a reporter for the Philadelphia Times. It included an “interview” with a woman who said she attended the premier performance of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
“I will live my life in America, and I will try not to complain as much because I realize that I am incredibly blessed with this amazing country that I live in,” Mary Brown said, according to Bunch’s interview.
Colton Dickson, a sixth-grader from Perquimans County Middle School, wrote about the march’s effect on the audience when it was first performed.
“The people at the parade and the entire Willow Grove community were moved by the patriotic spirit of the song,” Dickson said. “Men, women, and children were marching along to the amazing song. ‘It as a true work of art,’ one person said, and another person said, ‘that it was the best piece of music they have ever laid their ears upon.’”
Eighth-grader Avery Eley of Chowan Middle School and a resident of Tyner also wrote about Sousa’s most famous composition.
“Even though John Philip Sousa established his own poetry in the march, the piece is mostly heard in its instrumental structure,” Eley said. “This is a masterpiece, even without patriotic significance. The piece of work raised the standards.”
Winners of the American History Contest received a certificate and award pin. Audryn Bunch also received a District Level Award Certificate. Her essay was selected from 11 DAR chapters in Eastern North Carolina and forwarded to the state DAR essay competition. She accepted a $50 check for her award.
Carolyn Ayers was judged the winner of the Good Citizen Award Essay Contest. She is a senior at John A. Holmes High School and was recognized for her essay, which described how to be a good citizen, show leadership, volunteer for causes and exhibit a willingness to get involved in solving problems. Her principal, Sonya Rinehart of the DAR, and her parents were in attendance as Leatha Fischer awarded her the prize.
Cadet Lt. Col. Briley Koller, a junior at John A. Holmes High School, was presented the Outstanding JROTC Award by Debra Spence and Rae Olert of the DAR. Her parents and JROTC teacher, Lt. Col. Neil Parks, attended the ceremony. She received a certificate and gift bag from the DAR.
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