Coast Guard, OpSail announce essay, art contest

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard, in coordination with Operation Sail, Inc., announced, Friday, that it will be sponsoring an essay and art contest for local junior and senior high school students. One winner in each category, along with his or her parent/guardian, will be invited to ride the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle as the vessel transits part of the Mississippi River and moors in New Orleans for the War of 1812 events, April 17, 2012.

OpSail has partnered with the Navy, Coast Guard and navies around the world to commemorate the bicentennial of the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner and the War of 1812 . Some of the world’s largest sailing ships will sail into the Port of New Orleans, beginning April 17, 2012 for a week of festivities, concluding with an air show over Lake Pontchartrain, April 22 and 23, 2012, featuring the Blue Angels.

Students interested in submitting an essay should write 1,000 words on one of these topics and submit it to opsail2012-essay@opsail.org:

- The role of the Revenue Cutter Servicein the War of 1812;

- The role of USS Constitution and the U.S. Navy in the War of 1812;

- What the Star-Spangled Banner means to me.

Art contest entrants should submit a copy of their original art, in JPG format, depicting one of these topics to opsail2012-art@opsail.org:

- A Revenue Cutter in action during the War of 1812;

- What the Star-Spangled Banner means to me;

- A maritime scene from the War of 1812.

The art and essay contests are open to all junior and high school students enrolled in public, parochial or private junior or senior high schools and who will be at least 12 years-old by April 17, 2012.

For more information or questions about rules, deadlines and specific submission requirements, email contest@opsail.org or visit OpSail’s website.