[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          JENNIFER BREYER VOICE OF AMERICA SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

                                 ______


                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 1995
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, a young constituent from Oregon's Fourth 
District has expressed through her writing a deep and patriotic 
understanding of our Nation. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and its 
Ladies Auxiliary presented Ms. Jennifer Breyer with the state award of 
the Voice of America Scholarship program. I ask that her Vision of 
America be included in the Congressional Record.
                         My Vision For America

                          (By Jennifer Breyer)

       ``I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the 
     harder I work, the more I live. Life is no brief candle for 
     me, it is a sort of splendid torch that I have got hold of 
     for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as 
     possible before handing it on to future generations.''--
     George Bernard Shaw
       This is my vision for America. Wouldn't it be wonderful if 
     each citizen of the United States of America could take their 
     candle and make it burn as brightly as possible for as long 
     as they live? Wouldn't it be exciting if every citizen in 
     this country could have this opportunity to make their dreams 
     come true?
       In America we are known to live in a Land of Prosperity, a 
     Land of Hope, and a Land of Freedom, but are we truly free if 
     we have not had the opportunity to accomplish our dreams but 
     instead have been confined to small, everyday tasks? We are 
     free only if we are able to accomplish our dreams and make 
     our vision for America become reality.
       My vision for America is to make this country be as strong 
     as it possibly can be and make it clear to the world that we 
     are truly the luckiest people on this earth. But in order to 
     do that, each citizen in this great nation has a 
     responsibility, not only to themselves but also to their 
     country. You see, all of us are given a candle, but it is up 
     to us, as individuals to take our candle and make it burn as 
     brightly as we can.
       They say you can always tell where the lamplighter has been 
     by the path he has lit. But what if each and every one of us 
     didn't have to follow the lamplighter's course but instead 
     took our candles and made our own paths. We could make this 
     nation shine like a great star in the sky.
       Wouldn't it be wonderful if each American citizen could 
     take their candle and pass it on to a newborn child, and 
     explain that he has one chance, and only one chance in his 
     lifetime to make his stand in this nation.
       Can the people of this nation join together for one final 
     stand? Can they unite and join candles so that every 
     individual may feel as if they were part of another? Can we 
     put aside the race or religion of people and say, ``You are 
     my fellow citizen, you can stand next to me, and you can 
     fight with me for our country, the beautiful United States of 
     America.''
       Ladies and gentlemen, my vision is one of a far off dream, 
     one that may never come true, but that has made my life worth 
     living for. My vision may not come true in reality but in my 
     mind and in my dreams it has always been. For if I accomplish 
     one thing in my life, it will be to pass my candle on to a 
     newborn child, and let the legacy for the next generation 
     live on. If the world is a better place for just one person, 
     then my life and yours has been a success.
       I wish you all the best of luck in your quest for your 
     Vision of America. I have found my vision, and I hope you 
     will find yours as well. Thank you.
     

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