Smithtown HS West Senior Wins Essay Contest On World War I

SMITHTOWN, NY — Charlotte Muratore, a Smithtown High School West senior, wrote the winning entry of the Mildred Smith Scholarship Essay Contest, the school district announced.

Muratore's essay focused on Smithtown's role on the home front during World War I.

Muratore received a $2,000 scholarship, as well as two free tickets to the Smithtown Historical Society’s Heritage Ball this November at the Watermill Restaurant in Smithtown.

"I truly enjoyed using the Long Island Room over the summer at the Smithtown Library to research the efforts of Smithtown citizens during World War I," Muratore said in a news release.
"Additionally, including pictures from books and newspapers in my essay really painted a picture of what life was like during a time of patriotism. I was extremely appreciative of this opportunity from the Smithtown Historical Society and honored to be selected as the winner!"

Muratore, in her essay, discussed the efforts of the Smithtown’s Chapter of the American Red Cross as well as the National Bank of Smithtown, which collected over $316K to help.

On a personal level, Muratore's great-grandfather, Rocco Muratore, fought during World War I. He arrived at Ellis Island in 1921 and resided in Brooklyn. Eventually, he made his way to Smithtown where he lived on Terry Road until he died in 1983.