A Child's Heartfelt Tribute
This essay was written by my ten year old granddaughter as a school assignment. It is reproduced here, in its entirety with no corrections or changes. America has both its veterans and its children to be proud of.
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Veteran's Day Essay
5th Grade English |
MacKenzie Rhae Harper
October 26, 2003 |
What Veterans' Day Means To Me
What do you think when you hear Veterans' Day? Do you think about all the people in the Army or Marines, the Navy or the war? Well if you think that you're only half right. There is something your missing, and that is, what it is like to be an American. The holiday isn't about any big old feast or getting the day off from school. In a way it is about our freedoms and rights, our lifestyle and culture and all the brave people who go out and fight for us to keep all these things that are important. Anytime someone fights (even though you are doing it for good reasons), there is a price to be paid. Sometimes that price is very high. Veterans' Day gives us a reason to remember and thank all the people who fight for our way of life.
My mother's nieces and nephews were in the war. Elizabeth is out now, but Patrick was sent home in July because he got shot. He is going to be all right but they don't know if he will ever be able to use his arm again. I really felt bad and cried a lot because I think he is a real nice guy and didn't deserve this. I made him a card as soon as I could because I was worried about him. My mother asked Elizabeth if Patrick was scared to go back or sorry that he joined the Army. She said he told her, "If and when he is better he will go right back and fight again." She also told us that he really believes in what our country stands for so it's important to him to make sure it stays that way. Still he was lucky, there are many people who died in wars, and that is much worse. Going by how bad I felt for Patrick, I cant even imagine what their families felt.
When you're an American you can grow up to be anything you like, if you are willing to work for it. You can say what you think, and disagree with your own government, and don't have to be afraid that you will have to go to jail because you did. We live in a country that accepts any religion or nationality. America also helps other countries much more than any other country does. Sometimes after we fought in a war, we will send money and workers to the country we fought, to help rebuild what got ruined in that war. I don't think to many other countries do this. A lot of other people in other countries want to come live here. Some countries tell you what you will be when you grow up. Other countries don't let you go to school if you're a girl. This will never happen in America as long as people are brave enough to fight for our way of life.
Veterans' Day is when you think about America, how you are free, and the people who fight to keep it that way. It takes a lot of courage to fight in a war, that is why in the end of the National Anthem it says, "For the land of the free and the home of the brave." I think that really represents our country. So a lot of us Americans think we have the best country because we are free, we are brave, we respect everyone, we love and care for everybody, and we also forgive people. Veterans' Day is a holiday that you take the time to think about America and the people that serve our country. So that the price these people and their families pay, for us to keep the rights and freedoms we live by, isn't taken for granted. I now understand what price my family and other families have paid to fly our flag, I hope you do too! To Patrick, Elizabeth and all the veterans that ever served our country, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for my rights! Thank you for my freedom!
My mother's nieces and nephews were in the war. Elizabeth is out now, but Patrick was sent home in July because he got shot. He is going to be all right but they don't know if he will ever be able to use his arm again. I really felt bad and cried a lot because I think he is a real nice guy and didn't deserve this. I made him a card as soon as I could because I was worried about him. My mother asked Elizabeth if Patrick was scared to go back or sorry that he joined the Army. She said he told her, "If and when he is better he will go right back and fight again." She also told us that he really believes in what our country stands for so it's important to him to make sure it stays that way. Still he was lucky, there are many people who died in wars, and that is much worse. Going by how bad I felt for Patrick, I cant even imagine what their families felt.
When you're an American you can grow up to be anything you like, if you are willing to work for it. You can say what you think, and disagree with your own government, and don't have to be afraid that you will have to go to jail because you did. We live in a country that accepts any religion or nationality. America also helps other countries much more than any other country does. Sometimes after we fought in a war, we will send money and workers to the country we fought, to help rebuild what got ruined in that war. I don't think to many other countries do this. A lot of other people in other countries want to come live here. Some countries tell you what you will be when you grow up. Other countries don't let you go to school if you're a girl. This will never happen in America as long as people are brave enough to fight for our way of life.
Veterans' Day is when you think about America, how you are free, and the people who fight to keep it that way. It takes a lot of courage to fight in a war, that is why in the end of the National Anthem it says, "For the land of the free and the home of the brave." I think that really represents our country. So a lot of us Americans think we have the best country because we are free, we are brave, we respect everyone, we love and care for everybody, and we also forgive people. Veterans' Day is a holiday that you take the time to think about America and the people that serve our country. So that the price these people and their families pay, for us to keep the rights and freedoms we live by, isn't taken for granted. I now understand what price my family and other families have paid to fly our flag, I hope you do too! To Patrick, Elizabeth and all the veterans that ever served our country, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for my rights! Thank you for my freedom!
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