[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 LARA HADRYS: VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNER

                                 ______


                       HON. HELEN DELICH BENTLEY

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mrs. BENTLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today the salute Lara Hadrys of 
Joppa, MD, upon her selection by the Veterans of Foreign Wars to 
receive 12th national honors in the national Voice of Democracy 
broadcast scriptwriting contest.
  Mr. Speaker, I am submitting Ms. Hadry's speech for the Record.

                        My Commitment to America

       ``LINCOLN HAS BEEN SHOT!'' my grandfather told me. He was 
     enlightening me with the tale of his mother's remembrance of 
     the day Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Great-grandmother 
     was only twelve years old that day, and had already lost her 
     father two years before at one of the bloodiest battles of 
     the Civil War, Gettysburg.
       Before I made a commitment to my future in America, I 
     wanted to seek knowledge by looking into the past to see the 
     roots of my patriotism. Grandpa, my oldest living relative 
     and the eldest person of my acquaintance, was to be the 
     source of my knowledge.
       I approached Grandpa gingerly with my questions. My 
     uncertainty was unfounded because this spirited, 94 year-old-
     man was eager to share my family's history. His face 
     brightened with thoughts of his youth. What a discovery to 
     speak to an elder American with memories that I could only 
     experience by this one-on-one communication. Just as the 
     ancient chiefs of native populations told and retold their 
     families' history, the patriarch of my family began telling 
     me of those who came before me and had defended the voice of 
     democracy by committing themselves to America.
       My grandfather was born in 1899, right after the Spanish 
     American War, making him the age to be ready to fight in 
     World War I. But, fate has twisted his youth with an accident 
     in a woodshop class, that caused him to lose a portion of his 
     first two fingers. His disappointment that his enlistment was 
     denied for this reason, did not stop him from raising his 
     first-born son to also have a commitment to America. His son 
     was 24 years old the day he gave up his life to an enemy 
     bullet deep inside Germany in the Spring of 1945 so very near 
     the end of World War II. Although my grandfather was saddened 
     and distraught by the loss of his only son, he was blessed 
     with a second son born later that year in June of 1945. Never 
     did my grandfather waver in his commitment to America, 
     raising his second son to believe in preserving the strength 
     of our country's liberties. The second son, my father, 
     exemplified this commitment in August of 1963 by willingly 
     joining the United States Marine Corps. The celebration of 
     his 21st birthday in Viet Nam made him cognizant of the 
     abundant freedom of Americans, and the necessity of continued 
     commitment to maintain the strength of our democracy. It 
     became clearer to me why, we as Americans, commemorate 
     national holidays. On December 7th each year when my family 
     raises the original 48 star flag that flew over Pearl Harbor 
     in remembrance of my grandmother's brother, who perished 
     abroad the U.S.S. Curtis, it is a personally moving 
     experience for me.
       Consequently, the respect for my country grew, when I began 
     to fathom the commitments to America that has been made by my 
     ancestors.
       It made me realize, if my grandfather had tallied a 
     lifetime of happenings from war and peace to depression and 
     prosperity, what had countless millions of other Americans 
     encountered? By questioning neighbors, relatives, friends of 
     family, and the congregation at my place of worship, their 
     stories brought to life for me things like war bonds, 
     rationing, Chu Lai, supportive mothers, fathers, husbands, 
     wives, and children, the horrendous Bataan Death March, and 
     other actions taken by Americans at home and in far away 
     places. I could see that many lifetimes of commitment to 
     America could be absorbed, and by utilizing this learning, my 
     loyality and dedication could be turned into a working 
     commitment to America. How lucky the youth of today are in 
     having an ever-growing group of senior citizens from which to 
     collect their ideas. Most of these older people will never 
     have their experiences printed on the pages of history, but 
     their contribution to America, no matter what their rank or 
     position, has had a profound influence in the making of our 
     country what it is today.
       Only for the asking had all this amazing information been 
     presented to me in the living form of my grandfather, whose 
     memories spanned 130 years.
       Seeking knowledge to preserve freedom is my commitment to 
     America and it will be fueled, not only by the gift of my 
     heritage bestowed upon me by my near-centenarian grandfather, 
     but also by actively encouraging other young people to make a 
     commitment to America by searching for knowledge, just by 
     talking to the many experienced older Americans, who are so 
     willing to share their voices of democracy.

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