The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Fifth graders at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School recently completed a unit about the American flag and wrote essays for the American Legion Flag Essay Contest as a culminating activity. Winners included: Addily Benz, first place; Ellie Pals, second place; and Lexi Schmillen, third place.

Addily Benz, 1st place

The flag means freedom to me. My great grandpa (Robert Benz) served in the Navy at the end of WWII. My papa (grandpa Tracy Fortune) also served in the Navy. I called him and asked him some questions and here are his responses.

"What was serving in the Navy like?" I asked.

"It was exciting to be far from home. You learn discipline and respect and I got to learn more about the country. It was my first airplane ride."

"Why did you choose to serve in the Navy?"

"Well, I didn't want to do college and I thought it would be a chance to learn new things."

Taking care of the flag isn't an easy task. The flag should not be hung if torn or faded; the flag should be properly burned. The flag should also be up on school days. If other flags are next to our flag, our flag should always be on the right side of the other flags, or above the other flags. The union on the flag should always be on the left top corner when the flag is hanging horizontally. You should put the flag up briskly and lower it slowly. The flag can only be up from sunrise to sunset if it doesn't have a light. You should also put it down during bad weather if it isn't weatherproof. Everybody should know that when people are saying the National Anthem or saying the Pledge, you should stand up, take off your hat, and put your right hand over your heart. People in a uniform should salute the flag. The flag has 13 stripes that stand for the 13 original colonies and 50 stars that stand for the 50 states.

That's why the flag means freedom to me.

Ellie Pals, 2nd place

The flag means freedom to me. My dad was in the Army. When my dad retired from the Army, he got a flag folded and put in a frame. I asked my dad what he thought the flag meant to him, and he said, "It means freedom and represents the men who died." I agree with him because it means freedom and stands for the men who died. I never thought much of the flag. Now I know how to take care of the flag and what the flag means to me.

I learned that when you put up the flag, you must put it up briskly and take it down slowly. I learned that if you keep your flag up all night, you must have a spotlight on it. I learned you don't ever let the flag touch the ground. I learned that you don't hang your flag up if it is ripped or faded; you have the American Legion dispose of the flag properly. I learned all about the Flag Code. I also learned that the union on the flag has 50 stars for the 50 states. Also the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies.

I knew for a long time how to respect the flag. I know you stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. I know you take your hat off for the National Anthem or Pledge of Allegiance. I know that when the National Anthem or Pledge Allegiance is being said, you put your right hand on your heart. If you are a person in uniform, you salute.

I think the flag means freedom and to honor our country. I think that because those men fought for freedom, and we should respect that.

Lexi Schmillen, 3rd place

To me, the flag of the United States of America means pride, freedom, and independence. To respect the flag you should stand once it is presented, remove your hat, put your right hand over your heart or if you're in uniform, then you salute.

The flag should never be used as clothing, curtains, or bedding, it should be hung freely. The flag shouldn't be facing down unless in extreme danger, or bad trouble. To care for the flag you should never let it touch the ground, at night you should either take it down or shine a light on it so people can see it, and if the flag is ripped or faded, you should bring it to the American Legion so they can dispose of it correctly.

When taking a flag down, it should be taken down ceremoniously, proudly. When raising the flag, you should raise it briskly, fast. If you are a soldier and you have passed, then the flag lies over your casket, then once the funeral is over, other soldiers remove it, fold it into a triangle, and then present it to your family members.

The flag should always be on the right side and in front. The flag should never be dipped to anyone or any country. The flag has three colors and a number of stripes and stars that mean important things. The blue on the flag symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The red on the flag symbolizes hardiness and valor. The white on the flag symbolizes purity and innocence. The 13 stripes stand for the first 13 colonies, and the 50 stars stand for the 50 states of America.

You should always treat the American flag with pride and respect.