Hawaii 1954: ‘Why We Americans Honor Abraham Lincoln.’

In 1954 students at Lincoln Elementary School participated in an essay contest entitled, ‘Why We Americans Honor Abraham Lincoln.’ The contest was sponsored by the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee of the Oahu County Republican organization, reported the Honolulu Advertiser on January 25, 1954.

The Advertiser reported that all contestants were limited to 267 words, “the number Lincoln used in his Gettysburg Address.

The winner would receive a $25 U.S. Defense Bond as a prize.

The February 3, 1954 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser announced the contest winner.

“Diane Takamune, 10-year-old fifth grader at Lincoln Elementary School, who wrote ‘Abraham Lincoln was a truly great American,’ seemed pleasantly surprised yesterday when she was called to the school auditorium stage and told she was first place winner of a Lincoln essay contest.” Her mother was a second grade teacher at Lincoln School, and her father principal of Washington Intermediate School.

The second prize winner was 11-year-old Marilyn Wong, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yan Sau Wong and Penny Ho, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ho. Both were sixth graders.

Diane Takamune wrote that, “we honor Abraham Lincoln because he was a fair, honest and kind person –he believed that all men are created equal.” She also said that the Gettysburg Address “was like a prayer.” “Abe was a kind man in all of his ways, at home, at work, and even in war.” Diane Takamune’s essay had 261 words.

Judges of the contest were Robert M. Faulker, district superintendent for Honolulu schools; William T.S. Wong, principal of Lincoln School, and Mrs. Byrd J. Lacy, vice principal.