The Wrangell sentinel., 1936-04-03
CITIZENSHIP APPRECIATION

Anna Estepeth, a seventh grade student in the Petersburg scuool, won the local essay contest on Americanism sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary and op- Cn to grade school pupils. Her es- say has been sent to Fairbanks where it will be entered for q prize in the Territorial contest. She has already received a prize from the Petersburg Unit. Her essay, en- titled, Why My Parents Apprec- iate American Citizenship" follows:
 My father and mother were both b orn and reared on neighboring farms on Norways rocky coast.
 The youngest of eight strapping sons, my father had no chance whatever of inheriting the home farm. The custom decreed that the oldest son had first claim to buy the home land. If he did not want it, then the next one had the priv ilege to buy it, and so on down the line. That right is protected by the law of the land, so there can be no change made by any indi f- iduaI.
 My parents were married and were thinking of their future They decided to try another country to live their lives ill. They thought of America. that land which they had heard so much about. My grand-uncle had told stories of the Civil War. He and his oldest brother had fought in the Civil War while the younger brother, yet too young to join the Army had added another year to his age, so he could go also. Stories included how the oldest ot the brothers was killed, and the younger one slight ly wounded, and carries Dulle. in his body to this day.
 America-the country for which members of the family had fought aud died-would be the placs where they would go, their land ol opportunity.
 When l was six months old, they considered me old enough to cross the Atlantic. My protest did not help much in those days My pal ents left their country, their lam fly. and traditions, even their Ian guage behind, and became strang- CTS in a strange land.
 They landed in New York, put wanted to go west. They had nc liking for a large city. where the air was too smoky to breathe, the noise was deafening and sunshine was just a hot and heavy haze.
 The emigrant station at Ellis Island was something to be remem- bered for a long time. Along slde of our steamer a French steamer landed at the same time, With US cargo of garlic-eating, bundle pack ing perspiring southern European emigrants, jammed together in line waiting for inspection.
 My parents, and tiny little SIX months old me" travelled across the country to the west coast Near a small city named Kent, i'll Wash ington, we settled down for some time. Father worked mostly Tn sawmills and lumber camps. Hr liked this country very much, and he intended to become citizen as soon as possible. With lis love for reading and his dictionary to help him, it did not take long to learn the English language. His liking of the sea and restlessne"s for being on boat, and feeling a salt spray on his face got the best of him. One day my mother and I found ourselves standing on enc of Seattle's docks waving goodbye to my father on his way to Alaska.
 We soon got letters from my father telling about this new at- venture. It was not about sour doughs, Eskimo igloos, and dog teams as We had expected. He told us just as stirring tale I sturdy fishing schooners, heavy catches from the briny deep, snow capped mountains, mighty glaciers, winding beautiful narrows, and in- lets, and growing villages with good schools and friendly people.
 This tidiDg from my father to us meant that he had found us place for home. He had really found the place where he belonged. We