Requirements for Operation Remember Participants

Summer 2014 Activities

Students will be expected to read the book The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James Michener and

participate in an online discussion forum (through a private Shutterfly page) related to the book

and other resources which will be made available over the summer; this will likely continue into

the fall.

Students will be expected to participate in one of three “ice cream social” events to be held at

various veterans care facilities (VA Hospital - Bedford, MA; Chelsea Soldiers’ Home – Chelsea,

MA; either EPOCH or Golden Living Center – Melrose, MA) this summer (dates to be

announced)

Students will be expected to participate in one of three “cemetery clean-up” events to be held at

Wyoming Cemetery this summer (dates to be announced)

Students will be invited to participate in several local “field trips” to veteran/military-related

locations. Details are still being worked out, but ideas include:

o Charlestown Navy Yard (USS Constitution and Constitution Museum, USS Cassin

Young, Massachusetts Korean War Memorial)

o Castle Island (Fort Independence, South Boston Korean War Memorial)

Fall 2014/Spring 2015 Activities

Students will be expected to read the book The Bridges at Toko-Ri by James Michener and

participate in an online discussion forum (through a private Shutterfly page) related to the book

and other resources which will be made available over the summer; this will likely continue into

the fall.

Students will be expected to participate in a variety of fundraising events in the fall of 2014 and

spring of 2015 (dates to be announced)

Students will be expected to participate in veteran-related community service events – such as

food drives and memorial clean-up – in the fall and spring (dates and details to be announced)

Students will be expected to write an essay to be submitted for the Patriot’s Pen essay contest

(see information below and attached application; deadline October 31st, 2014)

Students will be expected to research a Melrose Korean War soldiers and write/present a brief

biography

Students will be expected to interview a local veteran and write a brief biography

2014-2015 Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest Information

(from the VFW website, http://www.vfw.org/PatriotsPen/)

WHO CAN ENTER: The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 (on the Nov. 1 deadline), who are enrolled in

a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

Please note: Current eighth-grade students are not eligible for the 2014-2015 Patriot’s Pen contest. They

can, however, enter the Voice of Democracy for students who will be in grades 9-12 on November 1,

2014.

HOW TO ENTER:

The deadline for submissions for the 2014-2015 program is November 1, 2014. (Application is

attached; additional copies of the application can be found at VFW site above.)

The theme is: Why I Appreciate America's Veterans

Students can ask a teacher or youth group leader to supervise their progress in the competition.

Then students can contact a local participating VFW Post and establish a contact person who is a

member of that Post or its Ladies Auxiliary.

Essays must be no less than 300 words and cannot exceed 400 words. They should be submitted to the

Post, along with the completed Patriot's Pen entry form no later than the November 1 deadline.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Knowledge of the theme is worth 30 points. You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your

work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development is worth 35 points. Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who,

what, where, when and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas is worth 35 points. Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader

with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.

Please be advised that November 1st is a Saturday this year. If you are submitting

the essay for Operation Remember consideration, ALL Patriot’s Pen essays and

applications must be printed out and turned in to Ms. Lord, Mr. Driscoll or Mr.

McLane NO LATER THAN 2:15pm on Friday, October 31st. Remember that you

are not allowed to include your name or any other identifying marks on the essay;

you must submit your essay with a completed application, which will served as your

cover sheet.