The Fleet Reserve Association’s 2008 essay contest, “What the United States flag stands for” is currently in progress. Low Country Branch 269 has provided Berkeley County and Dorchester District 2 with entry packages for their schools. Any Tri-county student in grades 7-12 may enter the contest. Students interested in entering can obtain contest rules and entry forms at www.fra269.org. Entries submitted to Branch 269 must be postmarked no later that Dec. 1, 2008 for judging at the branch level.
Prizes from FRA Branch 269 will be awarded in the form of Series I savings bonds. For each of the six grade levels, U.S. Savings Bonds of $200, $100 and $75 are awarded for first, second and third place winners, respectively. Also, one overall winner will receive a $500 bond in lieu of their first place award.
The first place winners in each grade level will be submitted to the Southeast Region of the FRA. The first place winners from each of the nine regions will then be submitted to the FRA National Committee on Americanism-Patriotism. The contest includes a Grand National Prize of a $15,000 Series EE U.S. Savings Bond, with $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 EE Savings Bond awarded to the first, second and third place winners on the National level in each grade category. Awards are presented by the end of May.
Be sure to follow all the rules provided and fill out all the information requested on the contest cover sheet. Your sponsoring Branch will be Branch 269. Please submit your entry to: Larry Cox, FRA Branch 269 Essay Chairman, 99 Wisteria Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445-3472.  Good Luck.