Olivia Grace Ralbovsky has been writing for most of her life, but at 11, she’s getting recognized for it earlier than most.
She took first place (and $100) in the local round of the New York State Flag Essay Contest hosted by the Saratoga Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This is the second year the statewide competition has been held through the Saratoga Chapter.
Ralbovsky entered the contest as an option in her fifth-grade English class at Caroline Street Elementary School in Saratoga Springs.
Many essay contests focus on facts, comparisons or experiences. This contest focused on feelings and asked young writers to express what the flag of the United States of America means to them.
Part of Ralbovsky’s essay reads, “Whenever I look at the American flag I know that my hopes and dreams are greater than anything. When I see the flag standing before me I feel I can make a change … I think of all the veterans, and important people that did good deeds, people I look up to.”
“I was very proud. …I meant every word in that essay, and it was true and meaningful to me … I was very happy,” she said of her win. Her essay now advances to the state level of the competition.
The contest was offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution to perpetuate the importance of the flag. The overall mission of the nationwide group and the local chapter is to promote history, education, preservation and citizenship.
“The topic on the essay never changes…approximately 50 per year reach statewide judging,” Denise Doring VanBuren, the organization’s state regent.
The Saratoga chapter was formed in 1894, has about 70 members and is one of 131 in the state. It is involved with the community, taking part in 4th of July Celebrations at the Battlefield, for instance, among many other events.
Statewide, there are approximately 7,000 members within the Daughters of the American Revolution. The national chapter formed in 1890 and there are 168,000 members across the country. Applicants must prove their lineage back to a Revolutionary War soldier.
Corrine Scirocco, regent for the Saratoga chapter, has been with the organization for ten years and said there are many options to prove lineage.
“There’s all kinds of ways, like the census. I have seven ancestors anybody younger will need more. You can have a cousin or an aunt or somebody else (to link back to),” said Scirocco.
Gloria Waldron Hukle has been a member of the Fort Crailo chapter in Rensselaer for five years and has attended many events hosted by the Saratoga chapter.
“I think that the DAR is a fabulous opportunity for women to be involved and make a difference … This is not your grandmother’s DAR. This is an organization of women who are involved in many community events and affairs, they’re dedicated to historical preservation. … It’s a lot more than proving out your lineage,” said Hukle.
The chapter offered the contest to fifth- and sixth-grade public, private, parochial and home schooled students in the Saratoga, Shenendehowa and Corinth school districts. Last year the contest yielded over100 entries, but this year that fell quite a bit. Eight entries were received by the Saratoga chapter, and about 50 were turned in statewide.
“Some of the children wrote lovely essays, but not ‘What it means to me.’ … Olivia looked at the flag and felt empowered,” said Linda Lewis, the Saratoga chapter’s corresponding secretary.
“That’s the first contest she’s entered, and she’s got a very strong interest in writing. She’s writing stories all of the time,” said Olivia’s mother, Suzanne Ralbovsky. She also said that Olivia writes on a variety of things including stories about her dog Louis, girls her own age, and some mysteries. She added that her teacher, Alison Robbens, is “pretty inspiring.”
“You could tell that it was written from Olivia’s point of view.… She felt strongly about it and I think that showed through. … I think it’s important to offer it as an option rather than a requirement,” said Robbens.
Robbens also said being able to connect with the topic usually gets students to write more meaningful essays.
“She has great ideas, and really seems to enjoy writing. I’m excited that she took the opportunity,” she said.
“I love to write so I was very interested in it. I’m proud of myself for doing that. … The flag, it really makes me feel hope … it’s representative of our state and the union and the revolution, it’s a part of the Union, it’s a part of me,”Ralbovsky said.
For more information on joining the Daughters of the American Revolution, log on to www.rootsweb.ancestry.com.