Provided by Sons of the American Revolution
Miss Alyssa Walburger, a senior at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, won first place in the George & Stella Knight Essay Contest sponsored by the Colonel William Grayson Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution. Alyssa is pictured with her proud father, David Walburger, and chapter Vice President Barry Schwoerer as she received her award: a $100 check, NSSAR Essay Bronze medal, and certificate.
The topic of her essay was “Patriotic Dedication,” the story of one of her ancestors, a fifer during the Revolutionary War.
Alyssa said, “I cannot imagine the thought of going into battle and being given the important responsibility to relay critical orders to troops. I can relate to playing an instrument, though. I’m a musician as well, playing the cello for my high school orchestra. I don’t think I could play my instrument with the stress of the battlefield.” Her ancestor enlisted for three years, never missed a day of duty and did not get a scratch from his wartime service.
