The Washington Crossing Chapter Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held its Washington’s birthday dinner meeting on Feb. 21 at the Continental Tavern in Yardley.
This year marked the 291st anniversary of Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22.
Grace Krause, a junior at Central Bucks High School West in Doylestown, was recognized at the dinner for winning the SAR George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay contest for Bucks County. The chapter presented her with a certificate and a medallion for winning at the chapter level of the competition.
Grace’s essay titled “The Product of Enlightenment” is based on her research into the idea that the American Revolution is a product of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe that emphasized reason and individualism rather than tradition. She read her essay at the meeting.
Winning essays at the chapter level were entered into the Pennsylvania Society SAR contest. Grace went on to win first place in the state contest. She and her parents will be invited to a state SAR awards banquet in the spring where all the winners of the Pennsylvania SAR youth contests will receive awards. As the Pennsylvania winner, her essay has been entered into the national competition.
The Knight essay contest is open to all high school juniors and seniors. The contest was established by SAR in 1988 to encourage patriotism in young people and to ascertain their ideas and ideals of the present. The essay was named in honor of SAR compatriot Calvin Coolidge who won an SAR essay contest while a student at Amherst. The name was changed to the George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay contest in 1995.
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