MIDDLESEX TWP — Holy Sepulchre sixth grade student Alex Meskani will head to Washington, D.C., next month to present his essay to the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Alex and his classmates entered the American History Contest sponsored by the DAR this school year. Each was asked to write an essay on the ideals of the Gettysburg Address.

At home, Alex said he researched the speech on the computer before writing about Abraham Lincoln's dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery.

"I took my time to do it," Alex said about his 827-word essay. "I put my best effort into it."

His essay first won at the state level, then the regional level.

Now, he's been invited to the national's Capitol to read his essay for competition there.

It'll be the youth's first time in the city, and he's looking forward to seeing monuments and the White House, he said.