Essay Contest: Update 1

April 13, 2007

Alright folks, Terri has already let the cat of the bag on the essay contest. I just wanted to share some further details of the contest with you. I’m hoping this will be a fun and inspiring contest. I want to make sure that it is clear that this contest is open to EVERYONE: military, veterans, family, friends, liberals, everyone! Myself and Terri are NOT literary majors. To be fair during judging, we will open voting to you, the readers.

Contest Rules:

    • Topic: What does the term “Support the Troops” mean to you?
    • Deadline: All essays must be submitted via email to by 2359 MST on 30 April 2007. Late essays will not be accepted.
    • Length: All essays must be at least 500 words and no more than 1500 words. Please don’t submit any epic novels.
    • Voting begins on 1 May 2007, with the winners to be announced on 15 May 2007.
    • Have fun and keep an open mind. You might learn something new while exploring other peoples ideas of what it means to support the troops.

      The Prizes (This is what everyone wants):

      • 1st Place Winner:
        • Ranger Up T-Shirt of your choice
        • A Soldier’s Mind coffee mug
        • Autographed copy of Citizen Reign’s debut album
        • A Soldier’s Mind bumper sticker pack
      • 2nd Place Winner:
        • A Soldier’s Mind coffee mug
        • Autographed copy of Citizen Reign’s debut album
        • A Soldier’s Mind bumper sticker pack
      • 3rd Place Winner:
        • Autographed copy of Citizen Reign’s debut album
        • A Soldier’s Mind bumper sticker pack

      Sites Supporting the Contest:

      Comments

      51 Responses to “Essay Contest: Update 1”

      1. Gathering of Eagles » Blog Archive » Essay Contest Announcement on April 13th, 2007 8:14 pm

        [...] is open to everyone!  For more information on the contest, please visit the contest rules at A Soldier’s Mind. Posted in [...]

      2. Terri on April 13th, 2007 10:15 pm

        Just so everyone knows, Anthony and I will not be participating in this contest. We want all of our readers to have the opportunity to do this and we tend to write about this quite a bit anyway.

      3. VTSharon on April 13th, 2007 10:39 pm

        Any chance at getting the “Ranger Up Pro Military Apparel” girl in the prize categories?

      4. Kimberly on April 13th, 2007 10:40 pm

        Cool idea, I saw your post on GOE, and posted the info in my support network forum.

      5. Terri on April 13th, 2007 10:43 pm

        LMAO! You want the girl instead of the shirt huh? Well……… I’m not so sure she’s available.

        Thanks Kimberly, hope you’ll be planning to participate.

      6. Anthony on April 13th, 2007 10:45 pm

        I’ll see what I can do. The Ranger Up guys are cool, but I don’t know if they’re that cool.

      7. Terri on April 13th, 2007 10:50 pm

        LMAO!

      8. Kathi on April 14th, 2007 2:49 am

        Hey,y’all…I ‘pimped this out”for you,also:) both on my blog and on MySpace and Yahoo 360. VERY cool idea!!
        (and I know that if I decide to enter,LOL, this ‘pimping’ will in no way affect my chances in the contest:)

      9. Terri on April 14th, 2007 5:39 am

        Thanks Kathi!

      10. Kathi on April 14th, 2007 11:02 am

        Yikes, I said Terri and “Andrew’….so sorry,ANTHONY…guess it was just a ’senior moment’. Mea culpa.

      11. Terri on April 14th, 2007 12:17 pm

        That’s OK Kathi! Thanks for spreading it around.

      12. Anthony on April 14th, 2007 12:45 pm

        Thanks for the support Kathi. You would be amazed at how many times I’m called Andrew.

      13. Lady J USA on April 14th, 2007 1:27 pm

        I just sumbitted my essay. Good luck everybody. :)

      14. Terri on April 14th, 2007 1:31 pm

        Thanks for participating Lady J USA

      15. Tracy on April 14th, 2007 2:59 pm

        I’m not a great writer so this may take me awhile LOL

        And Anthony, I had a soccer coach that called me “Stacy” for 2 years LOL I actually will answer to “Stacy” now :o)

      16. Terri on April 14th, 2007 3:06 pm

        What? You are too a great writer. I’ve read your posts at Tanker Brothers, so I know how well you can write.

      17. ecorry.com » Essay Contest on April 14th, 2007 5:21 pm

        [...] A Soldier’s Mind: Essay Contest [...]

      18. Dan Ford on April 14th, 2007 5:31 pm

        Added you to Sassafrassin.com and eCorry.com, my blogs. Also submitted my essay! Looking forward to reading all!

        Good luck to everyone, and I hope I win the Ranger Girl! ;)

      19. sue on April 14th, 2007 5:41 pm

        I submitted mine but not too sure who I will send that Ranger Girl too if I won. Maybe I could hold a raffle for They Have Names!! ha ha ha

      20. Terri on April 14th, 2007 6:09 pm

        Too funny Dan! Guess we know where the guys minds are at, don’t we? LMAO! Thanks for helping us to spread the news about our Essay Contest!

      21. Terri on April 14th, 2007 6:10 pm

        Hahahahaha Sue! I can think of a couple deployed soldiers that might enjoy the Ranger Girl, but I think they’d BOTH be in trouble, huh?

      22. Anthony on April 14th, 2007 6:51 pm

        Yikes, everyone wants the Ranger Up girl. I don’t think the guys at Ranger Up are going to give her up.

        Sorry for the delayed response, but I’ve been swamped with all of the submissions. I just wanted to thank all of you that have submitted an essay already. Good look to all, I can tell already it is going to be a tough competition.

      23. Terri on April 14th, 2007 8:07 pm

        Something tells me that they won’t either. When Marty called this evening, and I told him about all the guys wanting the Ranger Up girl he laughed. He said to remind ya’ll that she might look good, but she might have a crappy personality, so you might not like that prize as much as you think you would. hehehehehehe

      24. VTSharron on April 14th, 2007 9:08 pm

        “RUPMA” … there might be something here. Beats the heck out of CENTCOM!

      25. sue on April 14th, 2007 10:10 pm

        For sure Terri!! MAJOR trouble!! ha ha ha

      26. Terri on April 14th, 2007 10:33 pm

        Though when I told Marty about that tonight, he told me he didn’t need a Ranger Girl because he had everything he needed at home.

      27. VTSharron on April 15th, 2007 1:23 am

        OORAH, or somthin’ like that!

      28. sue on April 15th, 2007 4:33 am

        We’re on black out so can’t tell you what the opinion from here is. Just waiting and hoping and praying.

      29. Terri on April 15th, 2007 6:52 am

        Gotcha! Will be keeping you and him in my thoughts and prayers.

      30. sue on April 15th, 2007 8:20 am

        Many thanks!! Kinda scary. It’s day 5, and you KNOW that is not the norm.

      31. Terri on April 15th, 2007 8:24 am

        How well I know and I know how hard it is to sit and worry and wonder and not hear any news.

      32. sue on April 15th, 2007 9:04 am

        Ya, the word insanity comes to mind!!

      33. Terri on April 15th, 2007 11:48 am

        Oh I know the feeling well. I can remember not too long ago, not hearing from Marty for over a week. Because of the daily DoD dispatches I receive, I knew what was going on in their province, which kept me informed, but it was quite nerve-racking not hearing from him.

      34. sue on April 15th, 2007 1:06 pm

        I’m just hoping that someone forgot to pay their cable bill again!! Trying to be optimistic about it!! Last time they were down for three days for that reason. Hoping that is all it is. Fingers crossed!!

      35. Terri on April 15th, 2007 1:21 pm

        LOL! I’m sure everything is okay. Gotta stay positive!

      36. devildog6771 on April 16th, 2007 5:12 am

        I’m in and I’ll do a write up. What a great idea. I hope the guys under black out are OK. My prayers are with them and their family and friends. God Bless!

      37. Terri on April 16th, 2007 5:26 am

        Thanks devildog. I’m looking forward to reading your essay.

      38. ESSAY CONTEST - What does the term “Support the Troops” mean to you? « HELLO IRAQ on April 16th, 2007 5:46 am

        [...] please check in frequently at Anthony’s blog, A Soldier’s Mind, and read his post, Essay Contest: Update 1 h/t to [...]

      39. sue on April 17th, 2007 5:18 pm

        Thanks Devildog. Day 7 and still no word. Not sure what the story is.

      40. Terri on April 18th, 2007 5:39 am

        Hopefully you’ll hear something soon Sue. I know how nerve wracking it can be, waiting and not knowing what’s going on.

      41. CommanderMom on April 20th, 2007 12:48 pm

        Going back a bit, here, but have been wondering and hoping that Sue has heard from her soldier, by now? She’s been in my thoughts.

      42. Terri on April 20th, 2007 1:30 pm

        I’m not sure if she has or not. I’ve not talked to her in the last couple of days, but will see if I can find out something tonight.

      43. CommanderMom on April 20th, 2007 2:01 pm

        Ok, good, thanks, Terri~ I sure hope she has. If you do talk to her, please send her our hugs, and thinking of her.
        And hugs to all, who also wait.

      44. CommanderMom on April 20th, 2007 2:35 pm

        oops~I should add…she’ll probably say a hug from, who? :) No, we don’t know each other,personally,it’s just a hug from one family to another. :)

      45. sue on April 20th, 2007 2:40 pm

        CommanderMom, no I haven’t heard anything from him yet. It has now been ten days and I’m used to hearing from him every day. I’m just trying to keep real positive about it but as the days drag on its getting a little harder. But I just say my prayers. And wait! Thanks so much for your concern and your prayers. I appreciate them. And I’m sure he does too. hugs to you

      46. CommanderMom on April 20th, 2007 5:24 pm

        Sue~Yes, prayers, positive thoughts, and wait, and stay busy, too, huh? :)Continued good thoughts are with you and yours.:) Take care~Please let us know out here, when you hear from him!

      47. Terri on April 20th, 2007 5:43 pm

        Just know Sue that you can vent to me anytime you need to!

      48. Tracy on April 20th, 2007 10:03 pm

        Sue, I’m praying too.

      49. sue on April 20th, 2007 10:36 pm

        Many thanks for the prayers and I sure will let you know!! I’m sure you will hear me from where ever you are!! Terri thanks so much for bein there. You know how crazy this is makin me!!

      50. CommanderMom on April 21st, 2007 12:04 am

        I’m sure everything’s ok.:) Easy for me to say, I know,(cuz my soldier’s home,now), but NOT really, cause I sooo understand what you’re going through.:(
        Right there with you.

      51. Terri on April 21st, 2007 6:38 am

        Yes Sue I sure do. I can remember not long ago, when Marty was on blackout for quite some time that you were there for me. That’s what friends are for.

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