WINNING WRITER — Third grader Genevieve Goodspeed of Songo Locks School is pictured with SLS staff and fellow students. Pictured are Sis Littlefield, MaryJane McLoon, Bunny Greenlaw, Laurel Cebra, Kimberly Nielsen, Marion Merrill, as well as students: (second row) Isabel Adkins, Hannah Fitzpatrick, Bryce Anderson, Rebecca Caron, Emeline Akeley;
(third row) Preston Frye, Salem Gerrish, Connor Cribby, Brody Sandberg; (fourth row)
Abigail Elsaesser, Kelsey Gerry, Martin Shimko, Gavin Thayer, Kayt Hall and Emma Fogg.

NAPLES — Third grade students from Mrs. Nielsen’s class at Songo Locks School were recently honored for their essays entitled, “What Freedom Do I Enjoy Most?”

The essay contest, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, brought submissions from all around Maine. Members of the Naples-Casco-Raymond American Legion Auxiliary in Naples, as well as members of the Maine State American Legion Auxiliary, honored the third graders on Thursday, May 16 and also announced that one member of the Songo Locks community, Genevieve Goodspeed, has been chosen as the Maine State winner for the third and fourth grade division.

Genevieve’s essay has been submitted to the national contest being held in Texas. Her winning entry follows:

The Freedom That I Enjoy Most

By Genevieve Goodspeed

The freedom that I enjoy most is the freedom of speech. This is the freedom I enjoy the most because you can say anything you want. For example, you can say something like you don’t like the government and not get in trouble. You shouldn’t say mean things to other people, though, because it’s not nice. In some places people don’t have the freedom of speech, so if they say something bad they will go to jail and get in lots and lots of trouble. I think the freedom of speech is important. Many people get in trouble because they didn’t follow the rules in their country. I am happy that we have this freedom so we can say anything we want. Many people like this freedom too, because they like to say what they like. That is why it is my favorite freedom that we have in America.