[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ``ANSWERING AMERICA'S CALL''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL ORTON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. ORTON. Mr. Speaker, each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States and its Ladies Auxiliary conduct the Voice of Democracy 
broadcast script-writing contest. It is a truly worthwhile program that 
not only gives our youth academic support through scholarship awards, 
but also gives them the opportunity to become more acquainted with 
local veterans. The contest theme this year was ``Answering America's 
Call.''
  Today, I am proud to recognize a bright, young member of my district, 
Michael Fox, for his patriotic writing ability. Michael and 53 others 
were chosen from a group of more than 100,000 participants to receive 
scholarships that will provide crucial assistance in meeting the costs 
of higher education. I am pleased to pay tribute to Michael Fox by 
presenting his award-winning script to the U.S. Congress.
  The following is a copy of Michael Fox's winning script:

                        Answering America's Call

                            (By Michael Fox)

       For every generation of this great nation, since before it 
     was christened America, there has been at least one great 
     call. A resounding call for decisive, cooperative, forceful 
     action. Each great call centers around a crisis which if left 
     unresolved would compromise or even destroy the wonderful 
     land that is the United States of America. A great call is 
     heard by every citizen in every corner of the land, and each 
     is answered by the champions of America. It is thanks to 
     these brave heros, the champions of America that this nation 
     exists today as the greatest on earth.
       The standard for the great American hero was set in the 
     early days by the father of our country, George Washington 
     and the army that followed him in rebellion against the 
     oppressive tyranny of England. This army was raised out of a 
     haphazard group of farmers who made up for what they lacked 
     in classical military know-how with courage, smarts, rugged 
     individualism and honor. The sheer, rabid will to fight, and 
     the selfless willingness to give up their lives so that their 
     families could be free won the day for that heroic legion.
       After that conflict, in which America won the right to rule 
     itself, another kind of hero emerged. This hero had the same 
     moral qualities as the men of Washington's army. Many in fact 
     were veterans. But they responded to a different call. Theirs 
     was the burden of leadership, of establishing order, and 
     striking a balance between government rule and personal 
     freedom. The qualities of the American hero gave these men 
     the ability to build a nation such as none before it. They 
     had the insight to realize that people, if given the chance, 
     could rule themselves better than any king. They had the 
     courage to try out new ideas on a national scale. And they 
     had the honor to keep the new government free of the kind of 
     power-hungry corruption that hindered France on it's path to 
     freedom.
       The success of these early American champions in hearing 
     and answering the call of America set a precedent, and 
     defined our national character. It is the men and women in 
     possession of this virtuous national character, that have 
     carried us through every hardship. It is the ability of this 
     American champion to answer the call with brave deeds and 
     wise words that has brought the nation intact through every 
     war, every depression, and every catastrophe.
       But the great calls of America are by no means the only 
     ones. The heroic deeds recorded in history books are in and 
     of themselves not sufficient to maintain America. The true 
     American champion need not fight in a revolution or rescue 
     his nation from an economic disaster. For the spirit of the 
     American champion is powerful when applied to every aspect of 
     life. The characteristics of George Washington can be 
     observed every day in the people who beat back the criminal 
     element that grows in our cities like a cancer, in the people 
     who work to build and feed not only America but also the less 
     fortunate countries of the world, and in the people who teach 
     the children so that the next generation of Americans may be 
     as wise, brave, and honorable as the first. These people who 
     answer the subtle calls of America are the glue that holds 
     the nation together.
       If our nation is to continue to grow and progress, each of 
     us must be committed to the ideals of the American champion. 
     Each of us must be ready for America's next great call. But 
     in the absence of a great call, each of us must be sensitive 
     to the little calls. And when the call comes, we'll fight. 
     We'll never run away. Because ever since America began, the 
     land of the free has also been the home of the brave.

                          ____________________