Skip to main content
Email this page. Print this page set small font size. set medium font size. set large font size

News & Information

Department: Division of Senior Services

Essay Contest Announced to Honor Sussex County Military Veterans

Release Date: August 14, 2020
Sussex County students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades are encouraged to submit an essay to show their support and appreciation to the Veterans of Sussex County.

Essay Contest Announced to Honor Sussex County Military Veterans

Sussex County Seal

(Newton, NJ) The Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Senior Services and the Sussex County Veterans Committee honors its veterans each year at the Salute to Military Veterans event. This significant celebration has honored the sacrifices and contributions of our military veterans for the past 20 years. This year's award ceremony, originally scheduled to take place at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on the 1st of November, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year a patriotic essay contest is held to commemorate the event and honor the veterans. Although the award ceremony cannot physically be held this year, the Veteran's Committee has decided to proceed with the Patriotic Essay Contest for local students to participate in and have the opportunity to honor the veterans of Sussex County.

Sussex County students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades are encouraged to submit an essay to show their support and appreciation to the veterans of Sussex County, while gaining an understanding and knowledge of what the veterans have contributed and sacrificed. Entries from students who are home schooled will also be accepted.

The rules/requirements of the contest are as follows:

  1. Essay Topic: "Why Are We Saluting Sussex County Military Veterans?"
  2. Essay must be 200 words or less. Essays should be written on a volunteer basis by the student.
  3. Each school should select one essay each that is written by a girl and a boy.
  4. Copies of the selected essays must be forwarded to the Sussex County Division of Senior Services, One Spring Street, Newton, NJ 07860, by October 2, 2020. The following information must be submitted with each essay entry:
    • School Name
    • Grade
    • Student's name, address and phone number
    • School point of contact - name and phone number
  5. All entries will be reviewed and judged by members of the Veterans Committee which are representatives from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Student and school information will not be provided to judges in order to ensure fairness.
  6. One girl and one boy will be selected as the winners and will be asked to read their essay via video, which will be included in a video that will be posted on the County of Sussex website, Facebook and Twitter. Each winner will receive $200.00. Permission to publish the winning essay is required.
  7. Contest winners, their parents and school will be contacted by the contest chair when a decision is rendered.

Additional information and questions can be directed to the Sussex County Division of Senior Services at 973-579-0555, ext. 1226 or seniorservices@sussex.nj.us.