Free Trader Journal And Ottawa Fair Dealer

ARMY ESSAY THAT
WON PRIZE

Several weeks ago an announcement
was published in the Free Trader
Journal, that Clifford Lyons a junior
at the Leland High school won third
prize for the Peoria Recruiting District,
in an essay contest conducted by
the war department To qualify for
entrance in the district contest Clifford
had to write the best essay of the
score of entrants in this county, before
it was submitted by County Superintendent
W. R. Foster to the district
recruiting officer The cash award
for the third prize was a $50 gold
piece, which the contestant proudly
received
The essay which won the honors for
the young Leland boy follows in full:
"A message is winging its way over
the wire, come you are needed
The answer comes back, "coming"
It's the soldier ever ready at any time
of the day or night to come to the aid
of his countrymen What a thrill it
gives
Around the corner they come, in
perfect step, heads up, chests out,
shoulders back speaking of the finest
body of fighting men to be found in
the world It would be one of the
highest honors to be a part of this
body protectors of their native land
The very fact that a man is in the
army proves that he is physically fit,
for he cannot enlist unless he is
The Army is one of the greatest of
educational institutions, an opportunity
to learn any trade or profession,
an opportunity to visit foreign lands,
an opportunity to meet some of the
greatest men the world has produced,
and their knowledge, travel and experience
costs them absolutely nothing.
What better education could a man receive
Furthermore it may almost
truthfully be said that he is not only
getting this knowledge free of charge,
but also getting paid for it
Let me take you in imagination
for a day in camp as a soldier
As the sun is creeping over the horizon
the clear notes of "reveille" sound.
At once all is activity, soldiers appear
everywhere cleaned and ready
eager
to the days work without remonstration.
They sit down to eat one of the best breakfasts
prepared by the finest cooks.
Oh how they do enjoy it For they
consider their work tiresome, no indeed,
for they know that after it is
all finished they will be amply rewarded
for their labor They may take
their choice of a great many amusements
football, baseball, and many
other
athletic sports or they may
spend their time reading in the library
writing home or playing in the "gym."
What boy in the course of his life
has not had a desire to become a soldier
and visit foreign lands and do
thrilling patrol work for Uncle Sam
What boy has not had a desire to
be a soldier or to try out the army You may
startle these desires and many more
You may find almost any work in the
army which you care for and like
These opportunities for advancements
are offered to become officers
and a leader of strong men, disciplined
and trained to act quickly and without
hesitation.
"In regard to pay. The money that
the soldier receives is all clear All
his expenses are paid by the government
The sum could be sent home
if so desired, and the soldier would suffer
nothing from it. The lowest wage
is thirty dollars per month
"The army is a great builder. physically,
mentally and morally. The
outdoor life is very beneficial The
military training is of great use for
the building up of the body. The
finest physicians are ever ready to attend
you
"The religious education and moral
life is not neglected The soldier may
attend any church he desires. On his
daily round of dangerous duties he
learns to respect the church and what
it stands for
"Who holds a higher place in the
opinion of the people than the soldier?
He is received everywhere with open
arms and regarded as a hero. Who
has a better chance to become a real
hero and show what is in him than the
soldier. As he grows older he is looked
up to and patterned after by the
boys He is regarded with admiration
as one who was ready at any moment
to show his great patriotism by shielding
his flag and his country and to
give his life blood if need be for his
flag, country and the army, in which
he has learned to stand straight, walk
straight, live straight and become a
man