(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA) GenExchange Presents *A Dedication To Freedom* Essay Writing Contest Genealogy and History go hand and hand. With the upcoming celebration of Independence Day, the USGenExchange is presenting a "Dedication to Freedom" by holding an essay writing contest. Everyone is invited to participate! There is no age limit! What a great way to get your children involved in history and genealogy. Feel free to ask your children, grandchildren and students to write an essay. 1.) TOPIC: We will be accepting essays on "Notable Figures in American History" who have helped bring freedom to all Americans: the Signers of the Declaration Of Independence as well as other notable figures. A sample list is below. 2.) CONTENT: Each essay may include, but is not limited to the inclusion of the following information: Name of subject, Birth date, Birth place, Education Background, Family Background, Description of Accomplishments, Place Of Death, Date Of Death, Quotes, Images, Links to online information; bibliography. 3.) LENGTH: There is no set length for submissions. 4.) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: All essays must be received via email no later than 11:59 p.m. EST: June 30, 2000 to be considered for the contest. However, late entries will be accepted for placement in the *Additional Reading* section. 5.) COPYRIGHT: Copyrighted material will not be accepted. If discovered at any time, the essay will be deleted. 6.) FORMAT: Essays will be accepted in TEXT format only. 7.) WHERE TO SEND ENTRIES: Send essays and images to: Please include Your name and email address. For those 17 and under, please list your age and grade level. 8.) WINNING ESSAYS: Essays will be evaluated by a panel of USGenExchange State and County Coordinators. The best for each notable figure will be published in upcoming editions of the Exchange Newsletter and published at the USGenExchange Historical Figures section as the Main Essay for each historical figure. All additional essays will also be published online at the USGenExchange linked off of the main essay for additional reading. http://genexchange.org/founders.cfm SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: Abraham Clark NJ Arthur Middleton SC Benjamin Franklin PA Benjamin Harrison VA Benjamin Rush PA Button Gwinnett GA Caesar Rodney DE Carter Braxton VA Charles Carroll MD Edward Rutledge SC Elbridge Gerry MA Francis Hopkinson NJ Francis Lewis NY Francis Lightfoot Lee VA George Clymer PA George Read CE George Ross PA George Taylor PA George Walton GA George Wythe VA James Smith PA James Wilson PA John Adams MA John Hancock MA John Hart NJ John Morton PA John Penn NC John Witherspoon NJ Joseph Hewes NC Josiah Barlett NH Lewis Morris NY Lyman Hall GA Matthew Thornton NH Oliver Wolcott CT Philip Livingston NY Richard Henry Lee VA Richard Stockton NJ Robert Morris PA Robert Treat Paine MA Roger Sherman CT Samuel Adams MA Samuel Chase MD Samuel Huntington CT Stephen Hopkins RI Thomas Heyward SC Thomas Jefferson VA Thomas Lynch SC Thomas McKean DE Thomas Nelson VA Thomas Stone MD William Ellery RI William Floyd NY William Hooper NC William Paca MD William Whippie NH William Williams CT SOME OTHER NOTABLE FIGURES: Abigail Adams - Wife of President John Q. Adams, advocate of women's rights Abraham Lincoln - Freedom of Slaves Francis Scott Key - Author of the Star Spangled Banner George Washington - First President of the USA Harriett Tubman - Underground Railroad conductor, Army scout, African-American suffragette James Madison- Father of the Constitution Martin Luther King Jr. - Civil Rights Patrick Henry - "Give me liberty or give me death!" Susan B. Anthony - Paved the way for the passage of the Nineteenth amendment, giving women the right to vote Thomas Paine - political theorist and writer Joanne Abby - National Coordinator GenExchange - http://genexchange.org USGenExchange - http://genexchange.org/us.cfm To view previous GenExchange Press Announcements please visit http://genexchange.org/gesr/press.cfm

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