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Julie Lawrence, 8th grader, 2002-2003! Her VFW Patriot's Pen essay (below) won at the school level, the post level, the district level, the department level, and placed 19th overall at the national level of the Patriot's Pen contest. We are proud of you, Julie! |
My Pledge to America
By Julie Lawrence, 8th grade
Tears started growing in my eyes as I gently pressed my fingers against the horrifying pictures of World War II. I felt the people’s pain in these pictures. I asked myself, “What’s keeping us from experiencing this hurt today?” I looked around and found my answer.
Standing in a worn shirt with a faded collar and threadbare cuffs was an elderly man talking to a crowd. He was a veteran of Pearl Harbor. This man and many others like him have helped us to have a free country. I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me for this gentleman. As I listened to him speak of the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, I realized all that he had seen and gone through. He experienced firsthand the terrors of that day. Every veteran deserves our undying gratitude and respect.
My pledge to America is to honor veterans with admiration and regard. I promise to do my best to take care of the many veterans alone in the world today. At my school, I am the president of the Junior High Beta Club; a community service organization. It is my choice and duty to tend to the needs of veterans in the elderly homes in my area. I pledge to visit these veterans, listen to their words of wisdom, and try to meet some of their needs.
Most importantly, I pledge to never forget what these veterans have done for me and my country. Veterans are the foundation on which we have built this country. Veterans will always remember what they went through and the friends they lost in battle. It would be unfair and unjust for us to forget what they have done. Because of their sacrifices we live in a free country. They paid for our liberty in sweat and blood.
Like Abraham Lincoln once said, “ Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere who bravely defends his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves as best he can the same cause.”
My pledge is to be that citizen and to do the best I can for that cause. Just like the veteran from World War II, I will stand up for my country and its people in the best way I can.
