As evidenced in last week’s Question of the Week (“What does Memorial Day mean for you?,” May 26), adults reflect on Memorial Day in many different ways. That goes for kids, too.

On page 8 of this week’s newspaper, you’ll find the results of the first-ever children’s Memorial Day Essay Contest, sponsored by the Snoqualmie Valley American Legion Auxiliary. Valley Record staff helped judge in the contest, which asked young people to write about the meaning of the holiday.

Organizer Suzy Cassidy started the contest to help drive home the true purpose of the day — as a moment set aside to remember those who died in the service of their nation.

Reading essay contributions, it was fascinating to see the workings of young minds as they stopped to ponder the meaning of they day. We found several examples where, through writing, children mentally moved past all the fun family activities and pictured the sacrifice and selflessness implicit in Memorial Day’s purpose.

Special thanks go to teachers Tom Fladland and Julie Gardunia at North Bend Elementary for their students’ efforts in the contest.