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Left to right,
Hailey Porter, Morgan Hissong and Kassandra Weyent read their
award-winning essays at the annual
Pilgrimage to Annie Oakley’s gravesite following the Miss Annie Oakley
shooting contest.
Area school
children write about Annie Oakley’s inspiration in their lives
By Bob Robinson
Read the winning essay by Morgan Hissong here
Read the second place essay by Kassandra Weyant here
Read the third place essay by Hailey Porter here
BROCK – “Annie inspired me to strive to get an A on my project,” said
12-year-old Morgan Hissong, Franklin Monroe Local School. “Annie Oakley
has also inspired me to help other women stand up for what they believe
and not be afraid…”
Morgan was the first place winner in the Annie Oakley Committee’s essay
contest. She read her essay, along with second place winner Kassandra
Weyant, and third place winner Hailey Porter, at the annual pilgrimage
to Annie Oakley’s gravesite at Brock Cemetery.
She went on to say she understood the fear because “I was always afraid
to tell the people in my class the ideas that I would have for a
project or an essay.”
Ten-year-old Kassandra, Ansonia Local School, said Annie Oakley
inspired her to aim for a high mark at a young age.
“We both have to practice hard at what we do to get better so we can go
to competitions,” she read, noting that Annie was good at shooting guns
and she wanted to be good at gymnastics.
Eight-year-old Hailey, Versailles Elementary School, said that what she
and Annie Oakley have in common is they both had a target in their
lives. Like Kassandra, Hailey’s was gymnastics.
“I wasn’t so good the first time, but I looked at my scores and I
really improved.”
About three dozen people made the pilgrimage to Brock Cemetery
following Miss Annie Oakley 2013 Courtney Osborne, winning the shooting
contest July 25. Courtney laid the ceremonial wreath at Annie Oakley’s
gravesite.
State Representative Jim Buchy gave Annie Oakley Festival Committee
Secretary Hannah Linebaugh an Ohio House of Representatives
proclamation commemorating the 50th year of the Annie Oakley Festival.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the Annie Oakley Festival,” he said.
“I’ve made most of them; and the legacy of this marvelous lady lives
on.”
Buchy noted that by the age of eight, Phoebe Ann Moses was hunting and
trapping to provide support for her family. By the age of 15 she earned
enough money to not only support her family but also to pay off the
family farm.
“She was ahead of her time in women’s rights,” he added. “She thought
women should be able to defend themselves.”
She was very successful in her career; even after being injured in the
train accident at 66 she wasn’t about to let the injury stop her.
“Isn’t it great to be an American and know that somebody – a nobody –
can become so successful? Aim high. Hit the mark.”
Buchy closed by saying her husband Frank was so distraught upon her
death that he quit eating and died 18 days later.
“What a love story!”
A complete photo gallery of the Annie Oakley Days Pilgrimage 2013 will
be posted shortly. In the meantime, check out other recent photo
galleries, including Miss Annie Oakley 2013, at Community
Events Photo Gallery under the Community Tab.
Story published
courtesy of The Early Bird
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