In conjunction with Ken Burns series
The Princeton Packet is inviting readers to submit essays about their experiences during World War II as part the upcoming Ken Burns series “The War,” to air on public television.
About 1,100 World War II veterans die each day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Packet and public television station WHYY in Philadelphia are working to preserve their stories through the essay contest.
On Sept. 23, WHYY will begin broadcasting the six-part series, which explores the history and horror of World War II from an American perspective. The film, produced and directed by Mr. Burns and Lynn Novick, follows the fortunes of ordinary men and women who get caught up in the greatest cataclysm in human history.
As part of its outreach around the documentary, WHYY has partnered with several regional newspapers to solicit essays about the wartime experience of readers.
These stories can be first-hand experiences of battle, or stories of what life was like on the home front.
A selection of essays will be printed by The Packet on or before Sept. 23 and may be broadcast by WHYY. A selection of essay writers will be invited to attend a celebration event in early November.
The deadline for receiving essays is Sept. 10. To enter, submit a short essay (300 words or less) to The War Newspaper Contest, The Princeton Packet, P.O. Box 350, Princeton, NJ 08542-0350.
Include name, address, date of birth, e-mail address, date, whether or not you are a Packet subscriber and signature. For more information or to view a complete list of rules, visit www.whyy.org/thewar.

