Kendall student finishes 4th in state at Legion oratorical contest

Provided photo

ALBANY – Hannah Brundage of Kendall finished fourth in the state in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. The competition was March 2 at the Crown Plaza in Albany.

Brundage advanced to the state contest after winning the zone competition in Mount Morris. She also won the Orleans County and the 8th District Level contests.

She advanced to the state competition after giving an 8-10 minute speech on the Constitution and then a 3-5 minute additional speech on a chosen piece of the Constitution decided that day.

Brundage entitled her main speech, “Understanding the Government.” She began by asking how many in the audience ever leave home, wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again, not knowing if they would make it back alive?

Her father, Daniel Brundage, experienced that as an Army veteran with the 10th Mountain Division. He served a tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq. As a firefinder radar technician, his job was to locate incoming artillery and their trajectories and determine the enemy’s position.

“Putting his life on the line, he was able to save countless other soldiers from a gruesome death,” Hannah Brundage said. “Just like him, thousands of men and women in the military are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect us. Many do not return.”

Brundage urges citizens to educate themselves on the Constitution and the role of government.

“As James Madison said, ‘Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,’” she said.