Barrington Independence Day Essay Contest

Winners

By Jacob West

Just a couple of days ago I was walking down my schools hallway when someone accidentally hit my binder. This caused all my papers to fly everywhere on to the floor, in the middle of a traffic jam. Most people just walked around me and thought how grateful they were to not be me. I thought all was hopeless until one girl came up to me and aid, “Here, let me help.” We were done in no time., I had never met that girl, and I have never seen her since.

This girl had the spirit of caring. I have never met someone that caring to get out of their way and help someone else through life’s struggles. If everyone had this kind of spirit, the world would be a happier place.

Many great Americans were like this girl. Eleanor Roosevelt is a very good example. She helped Franklin get the best he could be with polio. Abraham Lincoln cared too. He was the one who actually cared about the African Americans and forced America to let them go.

Every day people also have the spirit of caring. Doctors, dentists, police officers, firefighters, counselors, and teachers are just a small portion of this long list.

To live with a spirit of caring is not just to show that you are caring, but to really mean it when you help someone. If someone just helped someone to show off, they would not have the sprit of caring,. If someone really got down and helped someone because they really wanted to, that would definitely be a caring person. To sum it all up, having a spirit of caring is very important in being a citizen of the USA. The US was founded of caring and has been caring to everyone.

By Jacey Johson

The Spirit of Caring in America

I think that America is a county that has a real spirit of caring attitude. I know someone in my life who is a caring person. This person is my dad, Bruce Johnson. He had recently been deployed to Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps. I think if someone would take that risk they have the spirit of caring for our country.

Bruce Johnson also did caring things when he was in Illinois. One of the things he did was work at a place called NICASA and they worked to prevent and treat drug and alcohol abuse. He is always caring about others.

He is a former police chief and helps keep others safe which is also caring. “Shop with a Cop” is a program he started in Round Lake Park. In “Shop with a Cop”, they collect toys and distribute them to needy children.

Bruce Johnson also taught Brownie troop 633 about safety. hat was done in the spirit of caring.

Having my dad deployed, knowing he helps adults and children, really makes me see how much he cares and proves that the spirit of caring really exists in America.

What is the Essay Contest?

The Barrington area Independence Day Parade is proud to announce an essay contest for children ages 8 to 18. In correlation with this year’s parade theme, “Spirit of Caring,” children are invited to write personal, reflective essays about what it means to live with a Spirit of Caring.

Entries may be submitted:

1. via our parade web site at www.BarringtonParade.com
2. via fax 847-770-4916
3. via postal mail to:
   Barrington Independence Day Essay Contest
   P.O. Box 3335 Barrington, Illinois 60011

Entries must include a completed entry form with the essay.

Entry Deadline
May 1, 2010

Eligibility
The essay contest is open to all Barrington area children ages 8 to 18. Essays must be 300 words or less.

Winners
3 winners will be selected. One from entries ages 8 to 11. One from entries ages 12 to 14. One from entries ages 15 to 18.

Once again this year, winners and their families will be invited and encouraged to participate in the Barrington Independence Day parade as food drive donation float leaders. This year the parade will be held on July 3, 2010.