250th Anniversary of the USA Celebrated by A-H Grade School
Essay Contest Winners: Grades 6-8th: 1st-Adlee Berry-$25; 2nd.-Rebecca Warner-$15 (Absent when photo was taken); 3rd-Ivy Binion and Drake Hopkins-$10 each.
By Doris Elmore
Atwood Village President Bill Fleming and Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the 250th Celebration of the United States, conducted a contest with the Atwood-Hammond Grade School in three different categories: Poster Contest, Essay Contest and Google Slide Deck Contest. The contest went well and the winners are pictured with this article. Posters will be displayed in various Atwood businesses; Google Slide Decks will be on display at the Atwood Village Hall and the lobby of the First State Bank. If room permits, essays will be printed in the newspaper.
The village board has been very proactive in promoting the 250th Anniversary of our country. If you see President Fleming or a board member, give them a thank you for what they are doing for the Village of Atwood.
A special thank you to Principal Chris Forman, teachers and students for their participation in this special endeavor by the village board.
Adlee Berry was first place winner in the 6-8th grade essay contest. This is his essay:
Adlee Berry
Mr. Pope
7th Grade social studies
25 March 2026
America 250 Essay
Have you ever wondered how old the United States is? Well, the U.S is 250 years old. So that means the U.S signed the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago to break free from British tyranny. When America began 250 years ago it was a little colony but slowly it has grown into a large country that protects peace and freedom around the world. So over the past 250 years the U.S has kept peace and freedom around the world but also in its own states.
The U.S’s first example of expanding its freedom was the Revolutionary War. In the revolutionary war the U.S fought back against the British King George because he was enforcing terrible taxes against the colonies. But in the end America got its freedom from Great Britain. This is the first example of America expanding its freedom.
Another example of America expanding its freedom is the Civil War. In the Civil War the Southern states seceded from the union to keep slavery since it was their main way of making money. The Civil War was a bloody war putting families against each other. But in the end Abraham Lincoln and the Union won the war defeating the Confederate states. The Civil War is an example of how the U.S. protected freedom in its own states.
Another example of the U.S. protecting and expanding its freedom is the second World War. In WW2 the U.S. didn’t immediately start fighting but after the Pearl Harbor bombing the U.S started fighting in Europe and the Pacific theater. The main focus in Europe was to stop the Nazis and free all the Jews from Nazi concentration camps. And the focus in the Pacific theater was to stop the spread of Japan. The second World War is a great example of America expanding its freedom around the world.
Another good example of America expanding its freedom is the Civil Rights Movement. In the Civil Rights Movement Martin Luther King Jr led peaceful protests all over the country. The reason MLK did this was because of segregation and racism. The Civil Rights Movement expanded the U.S. freedom by giving all the black people more freedom.
In conclusion, America has expanded its freedom especially during the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW2, and the Civil Rights Movement. The Revolutionary War and WW2 are both examples of countries restricting freedom from other countries and the U.S. has helped those countries get freedom. The Civil War and Civil Rights Movement are both examples of people fighting to get freedom for themselves and others. In the 250 years the United States has been around it has done a good job of expanding freedom and keeping freedom around the world.
