Honoring America’s Veterans announces the 2024 High School Essay Competition winners
More than 140 high school students entered the contest, which required them to write a 300-400-word essay on the theme of both the essay competition and the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade: “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans. Sacrifice remembered.”
Entries were judged for their focus on the quality of the story and its impact, writing and grammar, and adherence to the theme. A winner is declared for each high school grade level. 9-12.
Winning Essay students receive $250 cash prizes, the opportunity to ride in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, obtain memorabilia from the event, and the winning entries’ teachers receive $250 to use in their classrooms.
Daniel Scripter, Grade 9, Teacher Talia Polk, San Tan Charter
Scripter interviewed his grandfather, Robert Scripter, a Vietnam veteran, who said, “From February 1970 until December 1971, my grandpa served in the U.S. Army with his last rank as Sergeant E5, Military Occupation Series Code 11B40 light weapons infantry. He shared that he was shunned when he returned from the war in Vietnam and how that return took some time to recover. Today, my grandpa is glad our service men and women are now honored and recognized for their service.”
Daniel Beard, Grade 10, Teacher Lisa Ristuccia, Inspiration Academy
Beard leaned on the travesty of war in his essay, saying, “Men in the Vietnam War were commanded to do horrible things to the citizens of Vietnam, leading to most being haunted by the things they had done. What makes this sad is the fact that some of the U.S. soldiers did not choose to be a part of this war and instead were drafted or had little choice of education outside of the military and were motivated by that incentive. The soldiers' training leading up to the war was vigorous and demeaning, and it caused people to lose the sense of who they were before they even enlisted.”
Olivia Fray, Grade 11, Teacher Kate Menasco, Centennial High School
Fray wrote a letter to Vietnam veterans stating, “Please let me have the chance to give you the welcome home you deserve. The one where you are congratulated and appreciated for your service. The one where you can feel proud of all you did for your country. The one where you are cheered for and celebrated. Welcome home, veterans. You are heroes.”
Wendy Soto, Grade 12, Teacher Michelle Wagner, Maryville High School
Soto shared perspectives on the importance of honoring veterans, saying, “Now, as we look back into their sacrifices, these men's bravery and the price they had to pay for serving their country must be recognized…the courage and sacrifices made on and off the battlefield by Vietnam War veterans should be remembered. Such priceless service for the nation against the challenges they faced during and after the war can never be minimized. Their character was just one of many constant reminders of what kind of war comes at a cost and a sacrifice.”
You can see the students in the Honoring America’s Veterans Phoenix Veterans Day Parade at Entry #15 at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 11th. The parade heads south on Central, crosses east on Camelback, and then heads south on 7th Street, destaging at Indian School Road.