Attention 5th-8th Graders

On May 14, 1897, John Philip Sousa played his new march,

“The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

This song would become the national march of the United States on December 11, 1987.

Essay Contest:  Imagine it is 1897 and you are a newspaper reporter for The Philadelphia Times. Your newspaper editor has asked you to write an article about the new song performed that day. Your article needs to tell about Sousa’s life and the story behind the song. It is the first performance of the song, so make sure your article includes thoughts about the music and how the audience reacts to what was seen and heard that day.

Title of Essay: The Stars and Stripes Forever

Subtitle (optional)

Length:  Grade 5: 300-600 words and Grades 6-8: 600-1000 words

Entry Deadline: December 15, 2023

Type your essay in Google Docs and share it with your EY Coordinator so they can help you with formatting/submission of your essay.