By Daily Press staff
With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, the Community Action Team is searching for elementary school-aged children to show off their patriotic colors and writing skills in an essay contest. The finalists will have a chance to win one of three new bicycles and ride as the grand marshals in the July 4 Bike Parade in Belmont Shore.
First through sixth-graders are invited to submit a one-page essay on the topic of “What Freedom Means to Me” by June 28. Essays should be mailed to Justin Rudd, Attn. July 4 Essay Contest, 5209 E. The Toledo #1, Long Beach, CA, 90803. Entrants need to include the following information on the back: name, address, age, grade, height (for bike size), school name, parents’ names, daytime phone and e-mail address.
Children are also invited to compete for cash prizes during the Independence Day bike parade by decorating their own bikes with streamers and American flags. Contest and parade information can be found at www.BikeParade.com and www.communityactionteam.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 15, 2004. Read the original PDF.