Grant Sweet Memorial Essay Contest 2025: Exploring What it Means to Serve Our Country

Each fall, your Cromaine Library is proud to host the Grant Sweet Memorial Essay Contest, inviting local students in grades 7-12 to interview a local veteran and reflect, in a brief essay, on what it means to serve our country. This opportunity allows Hartland youth to engage with a veteran and ask authentic questions about their life, their time in the service, and what serving our country means to them. These conversations open doors between students and mentors, and build bridges between our youth and our local veterans, allowing for a greater appreciation for the sacrifice that all veterans make when they join the service. 

This essay contest is held in honor of former longtime Cromaine Library staff member Grant Sweet, who was deeply committed to honoring veterans and participated annually in a cross-country motorcycle ride to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC.

We are honored to share the essays from our three Grant Sweet Memorial Essay Contest winners, which were read aloud in our third floor Community Room on the evening of Veterans Day. Essay contest winners were presented with cash prizes and awards, and it was a wonderful evening to celebrate their hard work and to honor the dedication of our local veterans. 

We wish you a thoughtful and tender Veterans Day, and hope that these essay reflections inspire you to connect authentically and openly with the veterans in your life. May we never take for granted the dedication and sacrifice that our veterans make to serve our country! 

Gold Winner: Anabella Sadowski 

What it means to serve your Country

There are many things I have learned about what it means to serve your country from Elijah Ferris, a medically retired Marine, or someone who I like to call my hero. Elijah served from 1999-2009, in which he was deployed 7 times, to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines. In his time deployed, he was scared, so was his family, but he pushed through, and persevered, with the help of the camaraderie from his fellow Marines, it quote, “Made the time go by fast.” Showing how brave and strong of a human he really is.

What truly made Elijah proud was that he was able to defend the United States of America, against the terrorist attacks that happened on 9/11. By talking to him about his service, I learned what got him up in the morning, and what kept him moving though the toughest of times. It was an honor of being able to serve our county in one of its lowest times, he remarked. He felt like as a country, we were closer, more bonded, and stronger because of the terrible attack.

One quote that stuck with me was after asking him, “What should I remember about your military service to help me out in my day-to-day life?” His response was, “Attention to detail, and to do the right thing no matter if anyone’s looking.”

In the time I’ve spent with Elijah Ferris, I’ve truly learned the reason why these veterans have fought, and won. 

Silver Winner: Lewis Brennan

Essay read by Michael Fitzgerald, his grandfather

Courage 

Mr. Joe Burgess was drafted on November 1st, 1967 and entered the service as a E4. He joined the Seabees which is the U.S. Naval Construction Force. He was stationed in Davis Ville, Rhode Island and Camp Hoover in Vietnam. He said that Vietnam was unpleasantly hot and very humid. In his interview he said that when going away he was scared but it meant a lot to him to serve his great country, as his dad did in World War 2. During his time in Vietnam, he was in D Company of the Seabees and built hospitals, runways and landing pads. Unfortunately, in Vietnam, he experienced the great loss of his Company Commander and Chief Commander in a blast. 

At that point in history, he said the country was very divided. He told me he remembers coming home and service members immediately took off their uniform. He said, “I kept my uniform on because I was proud of it.” Mr. Burgess has the courage this country needs. He remembered coming home and walking in the Memorial Day Parade and being heckled in our own town of Hartland. He says a lot of good men died in Vietnam and he came home to his own community only to be completely disrespected. 

Today, Mr. Burgess is very involved in his community. His selfless acts abroad and current actions today, show youth like myself what true courage looks like. When it comes to serving others in our country, men like Mr. Burgess give everything they have, whether in uniform risking their life or at home teaching youth like myself. 

Bronze Winner: Sylvia Rogers 

Most people at Hartland High School know Michael Johnston as a dedicated history teacher, but what many don’t realize is he also served his country. From 1999 to 2003, Johnston was a member of the Air Force and was stationed in Kadena, Japan. 

Johnston decided to join the military for several reasons. Coming from a family with many veterans, he was inspired by their service and wanted to follow their footsteps. He also admitted that another reason he enlisted was to “get away from a girl”. Ironic, since that same girl later became his wife. 

Reflecting on his experience, Johnston explained that although his time in the Air Force was demanding, he was grateful for the lessons it taught him. “While the Air Force was very challenging, I’m glad I joined because it taught me discipline,” he said.  

After completing his service, Johnston decided to pursue education. Inspired by his parents who were teachers, he earned a teaching degree. Today he brings the same discipline, focus, and dedication he picked up in the military to his classroom where he helps students understand and appreciate history. 

Talking with Mr. Johnston gave me a new admiration for what it means to be a veteran. I learned that serving in the military isn’t just about the battlefield, it’s also about personal challenges, resilience, and learning lessons that last a lifetime. Even years after leaving the Air Force, the discipline, grit, and leadership skills Mr. Johnston learned, guide his everyday life. 

Thank you to our local veterans for your hard work and dedication in serving our country! You are appreciated today and beyond. We are also endlessly grateful to the Friends of Cromaine Library and American Legion Post number 415, who generously sponsored this contest.