By Marilyn Miller

Winners of the 2023 Dorcheat-Bistineau DAR Chapter’s “American History Essay Contest” were honored Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 at the Parish Hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minden.

The four winners were invited to read their essays, entitled “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Each winner’s contribution will now be entered into the State DAR competition.

“Last fall we invited fifth grade through eighth grade students from nine schools in Webster Parish to participate in our American History Essay Contest,” explained Mary Beth Edwards, chairman for the area contest. Two out of the nine schools responded, and the four winners each represented Glenbrook School.

“Each student was asked to imagine he or she was a newspaper reporter for the ‘Philadelphia Times’ who had been assigned by the editor to write an article about the new song that was introduced and performed on May 14, 1897,” Mrs. Edwards said. “The article needed to explain about composer John Philip Souza’s life and the story behind the song, ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever.’ Since this was the first performance of the march, the article needed to share how the reporter felt about the music and how the audience reacted to it.”

“This song would become the official national march for the United States on Dec. 11, 1987,” Mrs. Edwards explained. “The essay required that the students do research on John Philip Souza and the impact he had on patriotic music in America.”

Winners were Emma Kate Fox, fifth grade; Keller Slack, sixth grade; Trent Clemons, seventh grade; and Emma Horton, eighth grade. As Chapter winners, each student received a certificate and a bronze medal.