KEATING — Bailee Wirth takes a breath and starts reading, her words taking the audience back more than 100 years to a time of war.

The reason for her essay was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the dedication of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Wirth begins in first person, as if she had a brother who went missing in World War I.

Then she shifts to explain the history and significance of the tomb, which was established in October 1921.

Wirth is a fifth-grader at Keating Elementary School. Every year, Keating students enter the American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On Wednesday, June 1, Wirth was presented with a first place award for Oregon fifth graders.

She also got a medal, and $100.

Members of the DAR Lone Pine Tree Chapter, which is based in Baker City, arrived at the school, dressed in their signature red jackets, to present the award to Wirth.

“We’re really proud of her,” said Betty Milliman, chapter regent.

As the DAR representatives gathered in the classroom, Keating principal and head teacher Amanda Wilde explained the visit.

“Our special friends are here to celebrate a very special young lady,” she said.

Keating students in grades 5 and 6 enter the DAR essay contest, which has a different theme every year.

But the basic requirements are the same: good spelling, sentence structure, and documented research.

“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to deep dive into American history and do quality research,” Wilde said. “We’re so thankful for your contest.”

DAR registrar Lynne Zwanziger told Wirth that her essay will be go into the DAR history book.

“This will go down in history,” she told Wirth.

The American History Essay Contest is open to grades 5-8. One winner is selected by the local chapter to advance to the state level.

“There’s a lot of work to doing these essays,” said DAR member Joan Smith. “To win state, you have to have an extra special essay.”

“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”

By Bailee Wirth

It all started July 28, 1914, when my brother Andrew went to fight in World War I in France. My brother was a great person and I would have done anything for him. He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best friend. When he went to war I just hoped I would see him again, but while he was serving, he disappeared and no one ever saw him again. My family and I were devastated. I didn’t just lose my brother, I lost my best friend.

On November 11, 1921, my family and I were invited to see The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was a couple years after my brother disappeared. A couple weeks later we went and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My family and I were grateful that we could go to this very special event. When my family and I went to the ceremony we looked at the wonderful tomb, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was huge and from as far away as I was, I could still see that it was made out of marble. I went up to the guards and asked, “How much does The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier weigh?” They said, “The base of The Tomb weighs over 158 Tons.” My family and I were so surprised. We wondered how much it was worth because marble was a lot of money.

The meaning of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is to honor the people in World War I.

According to the Arlington Cemetery website, “In October 1921, four bodies of unidentified U.S. military personnel were exhumed from different American military cemeteries in France. The unknown soldiers were placed on a horse-drawn carriage and taken to Arlington National Cemetery Nationwide, Americans observed two minutes of silence at the beginning of the ceremony.”

The Tomb represents all the soldiers that served for us and lost their lives for everyone to survive and not have to deal with a war. It is for the people who died and no one knew who they were. Thousands of people risked their life and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is to hope that people will respect that. You are free and safe, because of those people and that is the most important thing that The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents. According to the Arlington National Cemetery website, “The Tomb sarcophagus is decorated with three wreaths on each side panel (north and south). On the front (east), three figures represent Peace, Victory and Valor. The back (west) features the inscription: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

Bibliography

“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Arlington National Cemetery, www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier.