About PHDCC
We are based in Henderson County, NC. To find out more, please view our mission statement.
Essay Contest
PHDCC sponsors an annual essay contest. You can download the official rules here, and the official entry form here.
Mission Statement
Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Committee
Henderson County, NC
Mission Statement-Pearl Harbor Day
Essay Contest and Patriotic Program
The basic mission of the Committee is to commemorate, as an annual tradition, December 7th as Pearl Harbor Day in form of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street, Hendersonville, NC.
A second mission is to educate and make the young people in our schools and the public aware of the magnitude of the effect that day had on all Americans. We will concentrate on the young people in our schools as a means to achieve this goal.
A historical pamphlet has been prepared to circulate to relevant students at the schools during September, October and November. It is reasonably short and shows how the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, plunged the United States into World War II. It explains that the loss of life in that sneak attack was 2,334 (about the same as it was in the terrorist attack on 9/11). It points out that our country was totally unprepared for war, and with much of our existing sea power destroyed at Pearl Harbor, the sleeping giant was awakened.
We want to illustrate to the students that the country banded together and stayed together to form the largest and best fighting force known to man. That fighting force numbered 16 million Americans who served in World War II. Over one million Americans shed their blood for our freedom in this war (almost 406,000 Americans were killed and over 671,000 were wounded). We highlight the sacrifices in personal pleasures and some freedoms that our people endured and how that spirit of unity brought us to victory in WWII. U.S. industry went from building 100 planes a year before the war to one every five minutes by March 1944. WWII saved the world, but the costs in lives, sacrifice and resources were great. America was at the forefront and Pearl Harbor, as disastrous as it was, got us together! The nation as a whole sacrificed to preserve our precious freedom – which now we often times treat as a right and privilege.
We shall have Teams of Veterans, WWII veterans if possible, as well as veterans that served in combat in later wars to go to each school from September to November to distribute the historical pamphlet and to describe the events of the times to edify and motivate the students to enter the essay contest that we are offering. These veterans will emphasize the hardships at the front as well as at home that Americans sacrificially and willingly endured to preserve freedom for all of us. We ultimately want to get the story of “What is The Significance of Pearl Harbor?” annually to all students through classroom education, discussion and essays; and to a large gathering of students and the public at the Historic Courthouse on December 7th.
The Superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools has agreed to high school participation on a voluntary basis. Other schools with classes at the high school level invited to participate in this essay contest are the Fletcher Academy, Hendersonville Christian School, Heritage Hall, Veritas Christian Academy and home schoolers. At least $150.00 will be awarded fro the best essay at each school, and at least $100.00 for the runner-up at each school. An additional $150.00 for the county overall best essay and at least $100.00 for the best runner-up will also be awarded.
In accordance with our contest rules, we must have at least three qualified essays for a student of each school to receive an award. We plan to have radio, television and/or newspaper coverage for the top winners at each school. The county winner will present his or here essay at the commemoration service on December 7th. We urge representation from each high school to attend the December 7th event.
Essay rules will be presented to public and private high school principals before school starts. High school officials will be consulted to arrange for Teams of Veterans to visit the schools during September, October and early November.
a patriotic commemorative program observing Pear Harbor Day will be held each year on December 7th at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street, beginning at 11:00am and concluding at 12:00 noon. Veterans are encouraged to attend and to wear their military or veteran uniforms.
COL William T. Stanley, USAF-Ret., Chairman PHDC
Essay Rules
Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Committee (PHDCC)
Henderson County, NC
The December 7th, 1941 Japanese Surprise Attack on the
US Armed Forces at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Field Essay Competition
“What is the significance of Pearl Harbor”
RULES
We seek to make this essay contest a rewarding learning experience and challenge. Your chances of winning will dramatically increase if you follow these procedures and advice thoroughly:
1. The approach to: “What is the significance of Pearl Harbor?” should be positive and your focus should be on your view of the consequence of the attack today on America and the world generally. Quotations may be used but must be identified. Your parent, teacher or counselor may advise you on your spelling, punctuation and grammar, but the content, sentence structure and syntax must be yours alone. The essay must be entirely yours. Contest is limited to high school students only.
2. All entries must be typewritten in English; double spaced in 12-point font and must be no less that 300 and no more 400 words. List your information sources at the end (e.g., interviews, articles, web sites, etc.) Every word is counted even single-letter words. Hyphenated words count as one word. Numbers are counted as words whether single or ten digits in length. However, the essay title, footnotes and sources are not counted. Entries that do not meet these requirements will not be judged.
3. Up to 45 points will be awarded for historical accuracy and the significance of the event in the coming generations. Up to 35 points for clarity of ideas, human interest and positive message. Up to 20 points for clarity of expression, punctuation, grammar and spelling.
4. Submit only the Essay and completed Essay Form. Staple the Entry Form to the Essay. It is your cover sheet. Submit only one Essay to your designated school counselor or teacher by the date established by that teacher or counselor. All Essays must be in the hands of the Chairman of the PHDCC by the Monday before Thanksgiving. – Bill Stanley, 15 DeLacy Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28739.
In order to participate, high schools must have at least three qualifying contestants. Contest is limited to the Henderson County public high schools and approved parochial and home school organizations. There will be a winner for each high school. The PHDCC will appoint the contest Judges. Each first place winner will receive an award of at least $150.00 the county winner will receive an additional award and will read his/her winning Essay at the annual Pearl Harbor Day ceremony. Cash awards will also be given to the runners-up. Efforts will be made to feature all winners on local radio and television stations and in the Times-News and Hendersonville Tribune.
Tax-Exempt Status
PEARL HARBOR DAY COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE
1341 Chanteloup Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28739
January 13, 2007
In a letter dated January 3, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service informed the Pearl Harbor Day Commemorative Committee that it has been granted tax-exempt status from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. It further states that, “Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the code. You are also qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.”
At its meeting on January 9th, the Committee discussed raising the prizes awarded winners of the Essay Contest, and approved conducting the annual December 7th patriotic ceremony at the Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College.
For information, contact Chairman Bill Stanley at 697-9026 or Treasurer Vince Colan, 697-2748.