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	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

2009-11-07

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009 11:44 AM

Dryden, Lambert pen top essays

Central Heights eighth graders Alexis Dryden and Ariel Lambert have been chosen as the first- and second-place winners of the Ottawa VFW Post 5901’s Patriot’ Pen Essay Contest. The contest asked students to write an essay about “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.”

“Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored”

By Alexis Dryden

“Where are you, right now?” You are probably sitting in a room, surrounded by friends or family, watching T.V. Your biggest worry is probably that you won’t make it back in time from the kitchen to get the snack of “your” choice, before the commercial ends. Who has made that possible?

Over the years I have received many awards. All of them for simple things like volleyball, 4-H, or academics. Veterans should be honored the same way and more. Since the beginning of time people have been fighting. Land, slavery, treasure, or even just because someone wants to be the big dog. For those reasons many brave men and women have sacrificed their lives for people they don’t even know. Many soldiers are just brave and just a hero. They are much more than that. They have seen, heard, and done things we can’t even imagine. They have met or been someone who will never go home again. And for what? For the sake of their country and their country’s freedom. A country that has protected us for over 230 years. Think back to 9/11. I was only 6 years old but I remember hearing about it and watching it on television. The pictures of burning rubble and weeping children and adults. I didn’t understand then but now I know. Bombing the Twin Towers was a horrible, appaling event. Thousands of innocent men and women died but thousands of men and women had the courage to stand up for those people and enlist in the military.

War is a terrible thing. Mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters know this all too well. Every second of every day they worry that their loved one could be wounded or worse — dead. Think of all the people they left behind. Think of young soldiers leaving their brides or new fathers leaving their baby or unborn child at home. Even when they come home, think of all they missed. Their child’s first step, first word, first anything and they are on the other side of the world, hoping and praying they will make it back.

The next time you get your snack, stop and think, and thank God that you have thousands of men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for you. And when they come home they know they will be honored by you.

“Why American Veterans Should Be Honored”

By Ariel Lambert

“Why American Veterans Should be Honored,” is a very good statement. Then again you could also ask yourself, “Why should American veterans be honored?” Bravery, risking lives, respect, and of course, courage are mainly the focus in my opinion. Then again these simple but very meaningful words might just be part of an answer to the “why.” That’s why I’m writing this. To explain the “why.”

Truly, truly bravery and courage have no true difference, except that in my opinion courage stands out in a stronger way than bravery. To me, bravery seems to be a much weaker way to describe a veteran when they seem to need much more encouragement and acknowledgment. Courage has heart and so do veterans.

We also need to remember that these veterans risk their lives every day! Just stop and think to yourself, would you want to get up real early and go outside with a chance of dying? Therefore, you now know that veterans need to be respected because they are willing to risk their lives every day, which leads me to respect.

As we go on with our busy lives, we seem to forget to stop and think about the people fighting for us, and the people who did fight for us. We need to respect them and hear what they have to say. Respect is very important and meaning--ful. If you treat or have treated a veteran with respect, I’m sure they are very greatful and will never forget.

Have you ever stopped and thought about a veteran for a few simple seconds? If you have your life may have changed dramatically. When you really get into detail, you might think of their families and their homes that they left. Now though, you are more secure about you and your family because you know that there are people fighting for your freedom and rights. You need to also remember that the veterans did the same. I think by remembering, you are also honoring. If you at least try to honor then you might feel better. I know I do.

Now I pray for those who have done more for us than we deserve! That’s why I believe we need to honor American veterans.