Katie Buckheit

Sports Editor

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a national society of women who have relatives that are veterans.   According to the DAR website, they are “…dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.”

The history of the organization is described on their website.  “The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890, during a time that was marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the beginnings of the United States of America. Women felt the desire to express their patriotic feelings and were frustrated by their exclusion from men’s organizations formed to perpetuate the memory of ancestors who fought to make this country free and independent. As a result, a group of pioneering women in the nation’s capital formed their own organization and the Daughters of the American Revolution has carried the torch of patriotism ever since.”

“Each year the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsor an essay contest along with the National Italian American Foundation in honor of Christopher Columbus. The topic this year asked the students to imagine they have been chosen to join Christopher Columbus’ crew as he sets out for the New World,” said Mrs. Svogun, AP Euro teacher.

Lyric McVoy and Bobby McGinnis, juniors, both received honorable mentions for their essays they wrote for the DAR prompt.

“The prompt was from the perspective of a sailor who was going across the Atlantic with Columbus.  The competitors had to write about what their hopes and worries were, and whether or not they believed the trip would be successful,” said McVoy.

The essay was written for the AP Euro class taught by Mrs. Svogun.

                “The contest was open to all students in grades 9-12 in Milford. The essays were judged for historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness. One winning essay from each participating chapter is submitted for judging on the state level. The state winner will move on to compete at the national level. The national winner is invited to read their winning essay at the National Columbus Day celebration in Washington DC,” said Svogun.  “Lyric McVoy and Bobby McGinnis, both juniors in Mrs. Svogun’s AP/ECE European history class will be honored for their accomplishment at the local Milford Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter in February of 2015.”