[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING JOSEPH DUNNWALD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM NUSSLE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 1998

  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to submit the essay written by 
high school senior Joseph Dunnwald which won third place honors in the 
Veterans of Foreigns Wars of the United States Script Writing Contest. 
Joseph is from Waverly, Iowa. Joseph received a $10,000 scholarship in 
the contest which more than 93,000 secondary school students entered. 
The theme for this essay contest was ``My Voice in Our Democracy.'' 
Joseph was sponsored by the VFW Post 1623 and its Ladies Auxiliary in 
Waterloo, Iowa.
  I am pleased to see young Iowans taking an interest in their 
government. I also want to thank the VFW for sponsoring this contest to 
make this opportunity possible for people such as Joseph.

 1997-98 VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, ``My Voice in 
                            Our Democracy''

                   (By Joseph Dunnwald, Iowa Winner)

       ``Well, it sounds crazy,'' my uncle told me, ``I guess 
     maybe there was only one thing I thought of when I got 
     wounded. I didn't know whether I was gonna die or not, but I 
     thought I might, but all I could think of? I finally get to 
     sleep between clean sheets, and get warm, and stay warm.'' 
     The 60 acre farm had been his whole world. He was a boy that 
     hadn't been so far from home that he couldn't see the smoke 
     from his chimney. The postcard he received read, ``your 
     friends and neighbors have selected you for one year of 
     military service.'' Before he would come home again, four and 
     a half years later, he would see five invasions, two in 
     Africa, Italy, Sicily, Southern France and the Battle of the 
     Bulge. He doesn't regret one minute of his sacrifice, and he 
     still tears up when he hears the National Anthem.
       Newly wed, the early 50's held more promise for my 
     grandparents than at any other time before them. The young 
     couple however, would have to wait to begin their new life 
     together, as his country called my grandfather to serve in 
     the embattled country of Korea. No one could know what would 
     lie ahead for the handsome soldier, but to this day, he 
     doesn't watch war movies, he'll never sleep in another tent 
     and he never never talks about his bronze star.
       The whole generation before him cursed the war, and chanted 
     to make love instead, but my father saw an opportunity to get 
     out of the home town factory, and maybe a better life with a 
     college education. He speaks with pride about helping with 
     the evacuation of Lebanon, and his memories of bringing in 
     the astronauts from Skylab always puts a gleam in his eye and 
     a yearning to go the stars someday. As I look at the photo 
     albumns and touch his ribbons, I ask ``why don't you put this 
     one with your others Dad?'' ``That's the Viet Nam service 
     ribbon. I never had to fight. They gave it to me because I 
     enlisted during the war, but I don't deserve it. That honor 
     goes to those who were there and fought.''
       My father, my grandfather and my great uncle. Not a day 
     goes by that I don't wear my pride for them like the medals 
     they earned making a better life for me. This is my heritage, 
     but how do I repay them? How can I use my voice in our 
     government to make things better for them and for others?
       I look at the sacrifices they've made, and realize that 
     what they did for my country, I will probably never be asked 
     to do. I appreciate what these brave men and women have done, 
     and contemplate how to give them something back, to keep 
     their efforts alive. True, they have their freedom, something 
     that many of us take for granted, but is that enough? My 
     voice could help others realize how precious their gift of 
     freedom truely is.
       Just one voice can turn into many, giving us all the chance 
     to be involved in our community, to work for improvements, to 
     share opinions that will bring the changes that will make our 
     country a better place. To carry the message of the 
     opportunity we all have, to do and to be whatever we want to 
     be. So that, people of all races and creeds can work in 
     peace, side by side for one vision.
       One voice, my voice, can echo their passion for the freedom 
     to make our own choices. To decide who is going to lead us, 
     by exercising our right to vote. I am not yet old enough to 
     vote, but I just cannot understand how people can pass up the 
     opportunity to control their own lives? The every thing that 
     these men and women fought for. Our right to vote guarantees 
     the same rights to every citizen. The right to work, the 
     right to get an education, the right to religious freedom, 
     and the right to be an American. We must be informed on the 
     issues, to find out the true intents of all of our leaders, 
     and pick them, not solely on the basis of political party, or 
     on how much they promise to give us, but on their person as a 
     whole. We must find that true person. I know that I will try 
     my hardest not to abuse this freedom, and to be wise in my 
     choice of leaders.
       I also know that in twenty years, when I have my own home, 
     and am well educated, married, with a good job, and am happy. 
     I'll roll out of bed after sleeping late on a Saturday 
     morning, I'll pour myself a cup of coffee, and step onto the 
     front porch to absorb the beauty of the day, I will think 
     back to the brave people that made all of this possible. My 
     heritage, my country, my democracy.

     

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