Ansbach poetry, essay contest highlight April as Sexual Assault Awareness, Prevention month

By Mr. Thomas Hamilton (Franconian News)April 9, 2015

Poem and Essay winners
U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach command team recognizes the winners of the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month essay and poetry contest. From right to left; Col. Christopher Benson, Mary Leonhart, Staff Sgt. Shane Rider and Command Sgt. Maj. Mar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANSBACH, Germany (April 6, 2015) -- Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month across the Army, the USAG Ansbach sexual assault response coordinator held a poetry and essay writing contest during the month of March and recognized two of the participants Wednesday.

Garrison community members were asked to express their feelings and thoughts through creative writing using this year's Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month theme "Eliminate Sexual Assault. Know Your Part. Do Your Part."

There were several entries of essays and poems but two entries stood out: An essay by Staff Sgt. Shane Rider of E Company, 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, and a poem by Mary Leonhart of Lawton-Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Col. Christopher M. Benson, USAG Ansbach commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Kiefer, USAG Ansbach command sergeant major, recognized Rider and Leonhart by presenting them with certificates of achievement.

To read Rider's, Leonhart's and other entrants' submissions, visit the links provided.

Related Links:

USAG Ansbach official website

Essay by Patricia Juneau Hauser: Preventing Sexual Assault in Our Army Community

Essay by Spc. Kevin Wagner: We Are Strong

Essay Winner- Changing a Culture through Grassroot Leadership by Staff Sgt. Shane Rider

Poem by Cedrianna Page: SAAPM SHARP: how serious are you?

Poem by Spc. Malaika Eller: SHARP

Poem by Justin Cepeda: Sharp Mind

Poem by Christy Jewell Kirkland: The Thief Amongst Us

Poem Winner- Someone's Angel by Mary Leonhart