Each year the York County Historical Committee, in cooperation with the York County School division, sponsors a Memorial Day poster/essay contest for York County students. 

The purpose of the contest is to encourage students to acknowledge the contributions made by York County citizens who fought in our past wars. The theme for 2012 is “York County Remembers the Civil War.”

This year marks the beginning of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War on the peninsula.  In April 1862, Union General George B. McClellan led the Army of the Potomac, 126,000 Northern volunteers, from Ft. Monroe to Yorktown.  At the time, Yorktown was held by 11,000 men, the advance guard of Confederate forces under the command of Major General John Bankhead Magruder.

Over the next month, McClellan's forces prepared Yorktown for a siege, placing 75 cannon and 40 mortars.  On May 4, when the Union forces moved to attack, General Magruder and his army had departed.  The pursuit of the Confederates took McClellan's army to the outskirts of Richmond.  Yorktown remained occupied by Union forces for the rest of the war.

York County students are invited to create a poster or essay to commemorate Civil War events that happened right here on our peninsula, or to reflect on the contributions of past York County residents who sacrificed to preserve our liberty. 

A collection box for entries has been placed in the office of each school. Entries must be in no later than May 11, 2012. Winners will be recognized at noon on Monday, May 30, 2012, at the Memorial Day Ceremony in front of York Hall, 301 Main Street, in Yorktown.