IDI Essay Contest

For the past ten years, IDI has sponsored an essay contest for public and private school students in Morgan Hill and San Martin. There are two divisions: Intermediate for students in grades 4, 5, and 6, and Primary for students in grades 2 and 3. The first, second, and third place essays in each division are included in our 4th of July Event Program.

This year’s topic was: “Define Sacrifice. Do you know of someone who has sacrificed for our country. What can we do to honor those who sacrifice?”

We had six judges read and evaluate over one hundred-fifty entries. Several of our judges served in our military service. These individuals had a difficult task determining our winners!

Our First Place Winners receive a $100 Savings Bond, while our Second and Third Place Winners receive $50 Savings Bonds. Children also receive trophies, T-shirts, and an invitation to ride on an antique fire truck during our 4th of July Parade.

Please take time to read the essays. We are so very proud of sentiments expressed by our young authors. I think you’ll agree they have captured the essence of this year’s topic!

Karen Ann Crane
Patriotic Sing and Essay Contest Chairperson

 

FIRST PRIZE – PRIMARY DIVISION
CAITLIN ROYSTON – CARDEN ACADEMY
Mrs. Ghosh

“OUR SOLDIERS AND THEIR SACRIFICE – WELCOME HOME!”

     Our soldiers serve during wars to protect our country and our freedom. They leave many things behind to go to war, including their families, homes, and friends. They don’t get to spend holidays and birthdays with their families and sometimes they miss the birth of their babies. They are very brave men and women because they might lose their lives doing this for us and our country.
     My grandfather fought in the Korean War and knows how it is to leave his loved ones and how scary it can be far from home fighting in a war. Many soldiers do not make it home. My grandfather made it and I am very grateful. I am also proud that he served his country.
     It is a joyful experience when a family gets their loved one home. Soldiers can have a hard time adjusting when they get home so we need to support them. We can show our gratitude by celebrating holidays like the 4th of July, Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. Without these brave men and women, we would not have the freedom we enjoy today.

 

SECOND PRIZE – PRIMARY DIVISION
MIKA ITOW – EL TORO SCHOOL
Mrs. Jensen

“THANK YOU, SOLDIERS”

     Sacrifice means giving up something. The military soldiers sacrifice their lives for our freedom. Their family is special to the soldier. When they are away they miss their family. They miss home-cooked meals, seeing pictures of their family, and sleeping in their own beds. They might miss their favorite clothes to wear too.
     They also miss their children and miss special birthdays, important “Student of the Week” awards from school, baseball games, and singing shows. They miss seeing their children at Open House at school and any special shows they do. I think they miss most of all the hugs and kisses from their children.
     When away, the soldiers miss Christmas and seeing their families open presents. They miss seeing the Halloween parade at school and their children dressed up in their costumes. And, they don’t get to go trick or treating to get bundles of candies.
     When away, they don’t have their usual jobs to go to so they don’t make money for the family.
     I think we can thank them by having a celebration parade in their neighborhood. I would also make a package with goodies for all of the holiday foods they missed. For Halloween, I would put in lots of candies and gummies. For Valentine’s Day, I would have candied hearts. And, for Easter, I would have chocolate eggs for them. For Christmas, I would give them a present that has a big “Welcome Home” on it.
     I want to thank the soldiers with my words and actions. They have done a lot to protect me and my family and the people in the world.

 

THIRD PRIZE – PRIMARY GRADES
GUS ROBINSON – CARDEN ACADEMY
Mrs. Sanchez

“OUR SOLDIERS AND THEIR SACRIFICES”

     I have an uncle named Mike and he was in the Marines. He fought for our freedom in Iraq, but now he is back. My Uncle Mike sacrificed a lot for our freedom. He sacrificed his time with his family. My cousins, Max, who is seven, and Alexander, who is three, didn’t spend Christmas with their dad. They missed their dad very much, and I know he missed them also.
     My uncle Mike is home safe now and I hope he won’t have to miss another Christmas again. I love my Uncle Mike and I am proud of his sacrifice. Sacrifice means to give up something for a good reason. The reason the people in the military sacrifice is for freedom and honor.
     I would honor the military when they come back from overseas by giving them the things that they need for living everyday life. I’d also make a parade for them where they had to walk down the street and people would cheer for them. I think the military does a perfect job of showing us what sacrifice is. When I grow up, I want to join the military to fight for honor and freedom.

 

FIRST PLACE WINNER – INTERMEDIATE GRADES
BOBBY VICTOR – NORDSTROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mrs. Brock

“SACRIFICE”

     Who is a soldier? A spirited individual who will put their life on the line to battle for the best possible future our magnificent country and we Americans could have. They are our protectors, a candle glowing on a vast, murky sea. Sacrificing so much, to let future generations feel the warm, joyful feeling of freedom. A soldier is a hero.
     Sacrifice is a word seldom put into action. To some people, their future is more important that anybody else’s’. They don’t do what is best for the world, only what is pleasurable to them, they think that someone else can protect our country. The soldiers from long ago to modern times are the humans who actually step up, go above and beyond the call of duty, sacrificing their lives on this Earth to make other’s lives easier. They are the ones who put words into actions.
     Can you imagine the ordeal a soldier must go through? Think of yourself for a moment. Could you envision everyone you know and love, gone, like leaves in the wind, separated from you for years and years, only showing their love through words on paper? You may never even see them again, will you come back? That worry bores at your mind every single hour of the long day for years; only God knows if you will march back into camp later that same day. Nights are cold, adding to your gloomy mood. Some nights you wish upon a falling star that you could see your loved ones again, if only for just a minute. Many people could not hold this colossal weight on their shoulders, that’s why a soldier is my hero. They can stay strong through thick and thin. It is almost as if they are immortal!
     What would you do if you heard that our warriors were coming back? You would probably he happy, and that’s it. We, as a country, should show our gratitude to them through love. You don’t need to send them expensive presents, love and thankfulness is the best present of all. Write letters showing your awe at their achievements and bravery. Send homemade presents, not a huge, pricey gift. Price tags don’t express feelings, actions and words do!
     Sacrifice, many people know the definition, to give up one’s life for others. Who knows it best though? The soldiers, fighting for us, who live the word every day.

 

SECOND PRIZE WINNER – INTERMEDIATE GRADES
JENNA WARREN – SAN MARTIN/GWINN ELEMENTARY
Mr. Downer

“A SACRIFICE FOR MY COUNTRY”

     One day, during World War II, William Borrmann decided that it was his turn to help his country. He believed that the Greatest Sacrifice he could offer his country was his life. So William volunteered to join the Navy and help his country. He sacrificed his life for his country, because of his love of patriotism.
     William left his home, his family, his fiancée, and his personal freedom to serve his country. From now on, the Navy made the decisions for him, and no one else. The Navy put him on a destroyer ship. His job was to work on the bombs. The Soloman Islands became his new home.
     He really did not like to fight in the war. And, he really did not like to talk about his service. But, he felt it was the right choice to serve his country. In all, he served four years in the Navy, until he was twenty-three. He even got a medal for fighting in a battle.
     William’s family worried about him when he was at war. Everyone in his family missed him, especially his fiancée! His family was very proud of him for serving his country. They even thought he looked cute in his uniform! And, he didn’t even get seasick at all!
     I think he did a great job, because it was a difficult decision during a hard time. I am grateful he served our country. He is one of my favorite people. I love him very much, and he is very special to me. Even though he is eighty, he is still really strong today. I am glad my great-uncle sacrificed part of his life for our country. Aren’t you?

 

THIRD PRIZE – INTERMEDIATE GRADES
VALERIA ROJAS – P.A.WALSH SCHOOL
Ms. Beale

“SACRIFICE”

Definition: giving up something for another
     Many people sacrifice. Some of the people that always have to sacrifice are soldiers. Soldiers have to sacrifice by being away from their family. That is really hard for them to do. I could not be one day away from my mom for very long or I would miss her and be sad. I cannot imagine being away from my family for a whole year or longer. My uncle was in the Army; luckily, he survived and was able to come home. Going to war is very dangerous but we go to war so we can have freedom. If my mom went to war, I would write to her everyday. I understand some soldiers only get to talk to family at home for thirty minutes every week.
     If the government called me and asked me to go to war, I would be scared. I would know that I would be doing it for the freedom of others, but I would still be scared. When you are a soldier in the Armed Forces, you have to be ready to go when you are needed. Some soldiers miss some of the most important days of their lives, like, their baby saying their first word, or their baby being born. Other sacrifices that soldiers make are that there is no privacy for living and there are very strict rules. Soldiers don’t have many choices like, the length of their hair. They don’t get to pick where to sleep, or what to sleep on, or even when to sleep. That is how it is to be in the Armed Forces. Some people that go into the service end up getting killed. It is really hard to lose loved ones, both of my grandpas have died and one of my grandmas and my uncle. If your loved one has died in war, I know what you are going through.
     Everyone goes through hard times but Veterans sometimes have flashbacks of horrifying things that have happened to them. You can become scared for life if you have been through a lot while in a war. Some soldiers are not the same when they come home.
     I think a good idea would be for all the Veterans that have been in the war should be honored and welcomed home. We should do something big to recognize them because they have represented the United States of America and freedom. We should have a big party and give them bonus-money. I think they should get a vacation or a couple of years off. They have sacrificed their lives just to preserve peace for you and made it so we can enjoy our freedom. We need to make sure to thank those who make sacrifices in their lives for us by being in the Armed Forces.