Patriotism

Today we went to the Dodge City VFW for dinner.  They were honoring winners of the essay contest.  My daughter Hannah brought home second place!  Her friend Maddie took first and her friend Amber took third in the Junior High division.  They were to write an essay of no more than 400 words on "What Patriotism Means to Me".  What follows is what she wrote.


Patriotism.  What does it mean to have great patriotism?  Patriotism means the love of your country and the willingness to sacrifice for it.  But yet, what are we supposed to sacrifice?

In school, we learn about all these great historians who were willing to stand for what they believed in.  Let's talk about Rosa Parks for example, on December 1st of 1955; she refused to give her seat to a white passenger.  She probably knew what was going to happen to her when she did it, but she was willing to take the consequences because she wanted other people like here to have the same rights as everyone else.  I believe she showed great patriotism because she sacrificed herself for us to have a better nation.

I don't necessarily believe that you have to be willing to sacrifice something for your country to show great patriotism.  I believe that patriotism means that you are proud to be from the United States, you proudly stand when the National Anthem is played, you enjoy the freedom and rights you have as an American, and are willing to help make the country better.  It means that you are thankful for the people who served for us, and are serving now.

I found this quote that I really feel as if it relates to this and is basically describe exactly what I was thinking.  It is from www.cnn.com and someone said, "Patriotism is not something that can be described in one word, one sentence, or in one paragraph.  It can be described in that one moment.  You just know that moment."  For me, that one moment is on the Fourth of July, when I see the American Flag waving on almost every flag pole and I see the fireworks in the background.  It reminds me why being an American is so special.  And that is What Patriotism Means to Me.


I was very impressed when I read her essay.  Her mom and I and her sister were proud to sit in the audience today as they read her name and she went forward to receive her award.  We had a great meal and she got a couple of cash awards for essay.  I don't know what Hannah will want to do when she graduates from high school.  I know she will go to college.  Who knows, maybe someday a child in the future will have to write an essay and Hannah will be their inspiration.  Whatever she does, I am sure she will be a Patriot.  It runs in her blood.  Proud of you, Boog.  We love you.