January 20, 2011
Isaac Power Wins Essay Contest
[[wysiwyg_imageupload:191:]]“Does my heart beat faster when I see the stars and stripes unfurled? Do I choke with tears as ‘Taps’ is played for the death of an American soldier? Do I swell with pride when I hear the National Anthem?”
So begins the opening paragraph of Isaac Power’s winning essay, answering the question “Does Patriotism Really Matter?”
Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Power’s essay was named the top entry for the Athens Post “Patriot’s Pen” writing contest . Over 225 local essays were judged at the local level, and Isaac’s winning essay has now advanced to the district competition. Winners from that level will be announced in late January.
All Prince Avenue Christian School eighth graders wrote essays for the contest, and the four top essays were submitted to the local post for judging. The other entries were written by Curry Cross, Sutton Norris, and Jed Parker.
Power’s patriotism has developed as a result of his heritage, travels, and his understanding of the price Americans have paid for his freedom, according to the words of his essay.
“Patriotism matters,” he says, “and it matters to me.”