By ANNILESE DEMERS

As Gaspee weekend comes to an end the RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution had one final duty to fulfill - naming the statewide winner of its Gaspee-themed Poster contest.

On Monday, June 13th members of the RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution gathered at Robertson Elementary School to name the winners. The contest was open to 5th-grade classes from schools in Warwick and Cranston as well as the Highlander Charter School in Providence. This was the second year that the RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution participated in the poster contest. Out of over 40 applicants, one 5th grader’s poster from Robertson Elementary was chosen and has already been sent to Savannah, Georgia to compete on the national level. Grayson McCaughey created the winning poster. As he accepted his award from Ron Barnes, president of the Rhode Island Sons of the American Revolution, he was quick to thank his grandmother Robin McCaughey for encouraging him to compete in the contest. McCaughey worked for three days straight to finish the poster all while being quarantined as he recovered from Covid.

Robertson’s principal, Bob Dillion, worked alongside Barnes to make sure all of the 5th graders that participated were honored. A quartet of fifth-graders kicked off the award ceremony by singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Two students, Giulianna Simas and Ryan DeSilva, each gave a speech about what America means to them. All of those who participated in the contest were given a special commemorative coin from the Sons of the American Revolution. The coin is extremely limited and usually reserved for the Sons of the American Revolution members. Barnes explained that the students received the coin because they worked hard for it.  Participants from other schools will also be receiving the commemorative coin. The other Warwick elementary schools that participated in the contest are Cedar Hill, Park Elementary, and Warwick Neck.

As the posters were being judged by the Sons of the American Revolution they decided that not only would there be the overall winner but an artistic winner as well. Hannah Camara from Warwick Neck won that award. She alongside Warwick Neck principal, Frank Galligan, were present at the Robertson event to receive the award. Both winners received a Walmart gift card on top of their awards. Mayor Picozzii was present as well and gave both winners a certificate of special recognition from the city of Warwick. McCaughey also received a special edition 250th anniversary burning of the Gaspee coin. The children were not the only ones honored, Robertson fifth grade teacher Karen Conley received a certificate for competing in the contest as well as a $250 check for her class. Both the Robertson Elementary school community and the Rhode Island Sons of the American Revolution are rooting for McCaughey’s poster as it begins its judging in Georgia.