SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The Monumental Talks Foundation is holding an essay contest for all Snohomish County high school students with the theme ‘Reflections on 9/11’. Submissions will be open from July 4 through September 5 with generous cash rewards for first, second, and third place winners.
The competition is open to grades 9 through 12, and open to public, private, or home-schooled students. Submissions can be an original, creative, poem, music, or artistic creation on the theme, so long as their submission is original, a personal composition, created without assistance, instruction, or collaboration of A.I. or other external means. This will be enforced through the honor system, the Monumental Talks Foundation said.
Essays must be type-written (Microsoft Word preferred) in Times New Roman font, sized 14, with 1.5 line spacing. Essays are limited to 500 words or less.
First place winner will receive a $1,500 prize, second place will receive a $1,000 prize, and the third place winner will receive a $500 prize. Winners will be announced at the organization’s 9/11 Remembrance Event on September 11, at the Everett Civic Auditorium. Contest participants will receive complimentary tickets to this event.
Judging and sponsorship will be supported by the Monumental Talks Foundation, donations, and the support of various businesses, media, service organizations, and individuals.
For more information on the contest and submission guidelines visit: https://hartleymansion.com. For questions contact the event coordinator, Dan Matthews, at 425-422-3105.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: All submissions accepted will be considered a donation to and become the exclusive property of The Monumental Talks Foundation, which may retain, publish, print, distribute, display, and disseminate any entry at its sole discretion.
Upcoming 9/11 Remembrance Event
Monumental Talks Foundation is hosting at the Everett Civic Auditorium on Thursday, September 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. a panel discussion titled, What is the cost of Freedom, hosted by Sanford Wright, MD.
Monumental Talks are dialogues the values of the American Dream, American Freedom, and how much people are willing to pay for the “Cost of Freedom.”
Speakers this year include Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, John Carswell, Steve Mclaughlin, Antonio Williams, Jeff Swan, Ray Lockman, Ricardo Velasco, Marcie Velasco, Lia Tetreault, and Karina Choe.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. Everett Civic Auditorium is located at 2415 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA. 98201.
About Monumental Talks
“Monumental Talks: What is the Cost of Freedom” is a powerful initiative rooted in the core American value of defending freedom, inspired by the historic legacy of Everett’s Hartley Mansion and the events of September 11, 2001. While the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, granted Americans freedom, the 9/11 attacks threatened it, prompting the creation of the Christmas Spectacular in December 2001 by Everett’s Volunteers of America. This annual show, running for 19 years, emphasized the importance of “Freedom” during the Christmas season, reminding Americans that without it, such celebrations might not exist.
In 2006, during the Iraq War, Dehner Franks’ song “What is the Cost of Freedom” was performed at the Christmas Spectacular, delivering a stirring message about the sacrifices required to preserve liberty. In 2024, this song forged a profound connection with the legacy of Roland Hartley, a Canadian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 1878 and, at age 53, joined the Washington National Guard in 1917 to fight in World War I. Artifacts in the Historic Hartley Mansion—Hartley’s citizenship application, a 1917 family photo with sons ready for war, and a banner noting his service—reflect this commitment to freedom.
This connection birthed “Monumental Talks,” a platform celebrating the core value: The Cost of Freedom. This value, shared across generations, faiths, ethnicities, and political divides, unites Americans in their resolve to protect freedom against any threat to the “Monument” of the American Dream. Monumental Talks are essential dialogues that reaffirm the priceless worth of the American Dream and American Freedom, for which Americans are willing to pay the ultimate cost.
Every Monumental Talk incorporates three key elements:
- The American Dream
- American Freedom
- The Willingness to Pay the Cost of Freedom
These talks are vital for fostering remembrance of events like 9/11 and ensuring that the sacrifices for freedom are never forgotten. Through Monumental Talks, Americans are called to engage in meaningful conversations to uphold and defend the values that define the nation.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
