ST. PAUL, MN [03/9/17]—In
recognition of the Month of the Military Child and National Poetry Month in
April, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced that he is hosting his sixth
annual poetry contest for Minnesota students. The theme of this year's contest
is "Celebrating the Veteran in My Life."
“There are thousands of
students all across Minnesota who have seen or experienced the sacrifices
veterans and their families have made for our country,” Sen. Franken
said. “Some of them are children of current service members, while
others know men and women who have served. This poetry contest will allow
students to honor those veterans and to put into their own words what those
sacrifices have meant to them.”
The contest is open to all students in Minnesota grades
K-12, with three age categories: Kindergarten to 5th grade; 6th to
8th grades; and 9th to 12th grades. Students can celebrate
any veteran or active military member, including a relative, family friend, or
neighbor who has had a positive impact on their lives.
Winners will be chosen in each age category. Those
selected will receive an invitation to attend a reception at Sen. Franken’s St.
Paul office. Guests include Sen. Franken; and honorary judges; Minnesota Poet
Laureate Joyce Sutphen; Minnesota National Guard Major General Rick Nash;
Minnesota National Guard Brigadier General Sandra Best, and Minnesota Education
Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.
Top winning poems in each category will be framed and
displayed in Sen. Franken’s offices in St. Paul or Washington, D.C. The overall
winner in each age group will receive an autographed book by famed Minnesota
author Garrison Keillor.
If you or someone you know wishes to participate in Sen.
Franken’s poetry contest, please submit a poem by April
21, 2017 to poetry@franken.senate.gov or by mail to:
Office of Sen. Al Franken
c/o ‘Poetry Contest’
60 Plato Boulevard East, Suite 220
St. Paul, MN 55107
Participants may submit only one poem, no longer than 250
words. Each entry must include the name of the child, the parent/guardian’s
name, a phone number, and the name of the child’s school. Please clearly
indicate the participant’s age category.
