[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       WHAT THE FLAG MEANS TO ME

                                 ______


                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 1995

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, as we honor the brave young men and women who 
gave so much of themselves in the Second World War, I thought it an 
opportune moment to reflect on the meaning of patriotism with the words 
of a special young man from my congressional district.
  Josh Pritchard, a 5th grade student at Capitola Elementary School, 
placed first among all students for the following essay on the meaning 
of the American flag:
                       What The Flag Means To Me

                          (By Josh Pritchard)

       To me, the American flag represents a dream, a great dream. 
     A dream that someday America will be a place where everyone 
     is treated equally, and no one is judged by their creed or 
     religion.
       When Betsy Ross made the American flag, she meant it to 
     represent America and freedom. Around the time when Betsy 
     Ross made the flag, everyone wanted America to someday be a 
     place where everyone is treated equally, and no one is judged 
     by their creed or religion. That wasn't true back then and 
     it's still not true now. In the last 219 years, we've come a 
     lot closer to the dream, but we're still not there.
       To me, the flag is something to be proud of. The flag is 
     what reminds me that someday America is going to be an even 
     greater place.
       The flag represents a place where there is no one creed but 
     a place where all creeds join together as one. A place where 
     it doesn't matter what religion you are, what color hair you 
     have, or what kind of clothes you wear--as long as you are 
     you.
       That's the end of my essay but the dream still stands. 
     Maybe in the next 100 years, the dream will come true.
     

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