Art and Essay Contest for Children of U.S. Service Members Published Nov. 20, 2009 By Abigail Nicholas Armed Services YMCA MACDILL AFB, Fla. -- The Armed Services YMCA is inviting children of U.S. Armed Forces members to create artwork and essays centered on the themes, "My Military Hero" and "My Military Family." The annual ASYMCA Art and Essay Contest is officially launched every November and is open to all eligible children of U.S. active duty or retired service members. Winners of both the art and essay contests will have their winning entries displayed in a number of locations in the Washington, D.C., area, including in the Russell Rotunda, and will be recognized at an annual luncheon on Capitol Hill. ASYMCA will award U.S. Savings bonds totaling $7,600 to 1st and 2nd place winners of both contests, as well as honorable mention recipients of the essay contest. "Our annual art and essay contest allows children to express their love, appreciation and admiration for their military heroes," said Frank Gallo, U.S. Navy Rear Adm., (Ret.), and national executive director of ASYMCA. "Their essays and artwork also serve to remind us of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform, and their families, make each day for our country." Entries for the art contest should depict the theme, "My Military Family," and must be postmarked no later than Feb. 19, 2010. The art contest promotes art among children in grades K-6 of active duty or retired members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard/Reserves families. The essay contest promotes reading and writing among children and teens of active duty military or retirees from all six branches. Students in grades 1-12 are asked to write about "My Military Hero," and postmark their entries no later than March 19, 2010. Official entry forms for both contests are available at www.asymca.org.