Teague Park’s fifth-graders recently experimented in verse for an Americanism poetry contest sponsored by the Lister-Knowlton VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary of Caribou.
The awards banquet was held at the school March 26, with 72 students participating.
Earning top honors, each receiving a certificate and a monetary gift, were Hannah Doody, first place and $25, Chloe Sleeper, second place and $15, and Avery Knowles, third place and $10.
Honorable Mention certificates were awarded to the rest of the top 10: Naomi Cote, Alexis Gustin, Devon Ray Hebert, Jaedon Jones, Madyson Landry, Marienna St. Peter and Ben Thompson.
In addition, each student received a pencil and ruler with the Pledge of Allegiance, pictures of all the presidents to date, a booklet on flag etiquette and a flag. Each classroom was presented with a poster of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Those attending recited the pledge, and Doody read her first-place poem. Following the ceremony, refreshments were served, all in red, white and blue.
Yvonne Theriault, the auxiliary’s Americanism chair, said the group sponsors a similar writing contest each year. This year, students participated with poetry. Teachers narrowed the field down to the top 10 finalists, and then auxiliary members named the place winners.
The students’ works were impressive, she said. “The things the children seemed to know – they seemed to know quite a bit of American history, which was nice.”
