Local winner selected in American Legion Oratorical Contest

By MICHELLE MCCONNAHA

The American Legion Oratorical Contest was held by Corvallis Post 91 in the Corvallis High School Library on Feb. 6.

Each speaker gave an eight- to 10-minute speech on the U.S. Constitution, then drew an amendment and gave an extemporaneous-style five-minute speech on the second amendment.

“We have great contestants, very talented,” said Doug Mason, member of Post 91.

Junior Michael McKay placed first with a talk on the “Building Blocks of the Constitution as Compared to Legos,” senior Ben Ericson placed second with a talk on “Capitalism and the Constitution,” and senior Colton Mason placed third with his speech on “The Drug War and the Constitution.”

American Legion members of Corvallis Post 91 judged the competition. The Corvallis Post is a growing and active chapter with 145 members.

Member Jack Mowat did the training for the competitors and Fred Upchurch served as chairman of the Oratorical Contest. Upchurch said he learns a lot from the competitors.

“Every time I review the constitution before the event and I think about when our Founding Fathers wrote it,” Upchurch said. “I’m not sure I understand every detail, but I come in here and these young gentlemen explain the constitution – making it clear as a bell to me. It is a pleasure to do this.”

The American Legion Oratorical Contest was designed as an incentive to help students learn the constitution, but it is also a scholarship contest. The competitors earned money for speaking at the local contest, then the winner moves on to the district, state, and national competitions - receiving money at each stage.

“It adds up and maybe we’re helping parents with $30,000 for college and the youth are learning the constitution along the way,” Upchurch said.

Last year ,McKay won local, district, and state to compete at the National American Legion Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, Indiana.

McKay will move on to the district competition in Florence on Feb. 24 and if he wins will advance to the state competition in Great Falls. The National competition is again in Indianapolis, April 13–15.