[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ``WHAT AMERICA MEANS TO ME'' ESSAY WINNER KYLE KITSCHER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, the Fort Collins Elks Lodge 
No. 804 recently held a ceremony honoring three Fort Collins students 
for having written admirably on the subject of American citizenship. 
Their essays, entitled, ``What America Means to Me,'' are fine examples 
of what we can expect when we encourage our children to articulate 
their patriotism.
  This year's first-place winner is Kyle Kitscher, a fifth grader at 
Tavelli Elementary School. Allow me to share with you excerpts of his 
essay:

       America is my home. I was born here making me a legal 
     citizen. Many people would like to live here and become 
     citizens because of the freedom we enjoy. The kind of freedom 
     America has is like this: We have the choice of who we want 
     to marry or where we want to live. We have the choice of 
     which religion we want to practice.
       America has a great history. We take bits and pieces of 
     other cultures and blend them together for a new culture, 
     this is diverse. America has good land for growing food, 
     minerals for production and clean water and plenty of land 
     for everyone.

  Second and third place went to Kelly Taylor and Jordan Bowlby; both 
from Riffenburgh Elementary School. They, too, are to be commended for 
superb writing on a subject so dear to us all.
  Let me take a moment to thank the Elks Lodge #804 in Fort Collins, 
which has sponsored this competition now for 14 years. Their many years 
of contributions to elementary education in Fort Collins are worthy of 
recognition by the House.

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