Star-Spangled Summer Adventure

If you look hard enough, you can always find an anniversary for an interesting historical event, but 2014 seems to be full of special dates. We just commemorated the 70th anniversary of D-day, and coming up soon are the 100-year anniversaries of the events leading to the start of World War One.

One of my author friends wrote a series of novels about the War of 1812, and to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of such events at the British ransacking of Washington D.C. and the Battle of Baltimore (where we got our national anthem), L.C. (Laurie) Lewis is hosting a contest to encourage families to go discover their history by visiting local, state, or federal historical landmarks.

I love the idea of encouraging families to have a “Star-Spangled Adventure,” so I donated a copy of Deadly Alliance for the prize package being put together, which includes a DVR, a gift card, a Charters of Freedom set, and lots of books. Full details of the contest, as well as updates from families, will be posted on Laurie’s Blog throughout the summer, but here are the basics:

Here’s how you enter:

1. Visit five American historical landmarks, (even your local landmarks count), between Flag Day, June 14th, and Defender’s Day, September 12th.

2. Email photos of your family standing in front of a sign or building indicating where you went. Use this email address: starspangledsummeradventure@gmail.com

That’s it!

Additional entries will be awarded for those who promote the SSSA by posting the official badge and link on their blog, and link to it via their Facebook page, or on Twitter. Just send an email with the corresponding link to starspangledsummeradventure@gmail.com

Additional entries can also be earned by submitting a brief, (250 words or less), testimonial recounting your experience on a leg of your “Star-Spangled Adventure.” These will be posted on my blog over the summer.

One family will be selected to win the prize package on September 13th. Visit the official Star-Spangled Summer Adventure page at http://www.laurielclewis.com/summer-adventure.htm.

Prizes are still coming in, but the package now includes a Vivitar Digital Video Recorder; a $50 gift card to Bed, Bath, and Beyond; a commemorative set of the Charters of Freedom, suitable for framing; and a family-worthy collection of autographed books from authors in a variety of genres.

So hit the road, and let us see what great American history you find!