[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   BROOKE BOTTUM ESSAY AMONG WINNERS IN SCHOOL-DAR FLAG ESSAY CONTEST

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, for more than 20 years, Nancy Vonic, 
English teacher at Oliver Winch Junior High School in South Glens 
Falls, NY, and with the help of the Jane McCrea Chapter of the 
Daughters of the American Revolution, has assigned her seventh-graders 
to write essays about the American flag.
  I am proud to place the winning essays in today's Record, including 
the honorable mention essay submitted by Brooke Bottum, daughter of 
Diane Bottum, of 11 Lincoln Avenue East, in South Glens Falls. 
Congratulations go out to Brooke, and our grateful appreciation to 
Nancy Vonic and the Jane McCrea Chapter of the the DAR.

                           Honorable Mention


                           the american flag

                           (By Brooke Bottum)

       This essay is about what the United States flag means to 
     me.
       The United States flag is a symbol which stands for our 
     country's land, people, government, and ideas. When I say the 
     Pledge of Alligiance, I feel that I am honoring the men and 
     women who died to protect our flag from dishonor and 
     disgrace.
       The flag was made in 1777. It has 13 stripes, which stand 
     for the original 13 colonies. There are 50 stars inside a 
     blue square that represent the 50 states. The first flag was 
     made by Betsy Ross. A description of the flag is in the 
     Journals of the Constitution.
       I am very grateful to my grandfather. He fought for our 
     country's rights during World War II. He was willing to die 
     for our country. I like to listen to stories about when he 
     was in the war. I can learn a lot from him.
       Also a close elderly friend of mine was a woman who helped 
     out during the Korean War. She died a couple of months ago. 
     At her burial, there was a flag over her casket. Men shot off 
     guns and there was a person playing slow trumpet music. The 
     flag was folded a certain way and presented to her son. When 
     they put up her headstone, there was a flag put next to it. 
     She is buried in Our Lady of Angels Church (cemetery) in 
     Whitehall.
       As we learn more about the wars in Social Studies class, it 
     makes me feel honored to be part of the United States and to 
     be able to stand and honor our flag every day in school. It 
     makes me realize how lucky I am to be in a country with so 
     much freedom.

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