[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 119 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1815
       VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS NATIONAL YOUTH ESSAY COMPETITION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Blunt). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Redmond) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. REDMOND. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to read the 
winning essay in the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Youth Essay 
Competition. It was written by Heather Hull of Los Alamos, New Mexico.
  Heather writes about patriotism, and she says:

       Patriotism, to me, is the spirit and soul of a country. It 
     is what keeps a country together not only through war and 
     hardships, but also through victory and triumph. What else 
     could keep a soldier from losing hope in battle, a 
     disheartened country from losing the burning desire to 
     rebuild itself, a nation of divided citizens from dueling 
     each other?
       It is patriotism that keeps our love of freedom alive. It 
     is not money or wealth; it is not social acceptance. It is 
     the pure goodwill of every true American that keeps our 
     Nation's dream alive.
       Every day we show our patriotism in large and small ways: 
     by proudly saluting the flag, by saying the Pledge of 
     Allegiance, by celebrating the Fourth of July with its bursts 
     of fireworks. Americans show their patriotism when soldiers 
     give their lives serving our country and when citizens cast a 
     vote in support of a candidate whose ideals represent their 
     own.
       Behind our many freedoms, including the freedoms of speech 
     and religion, stand all the men and women who, through 
     dedication to their dreams and perseverance, through their 
     struggles, have made so many opportunities ours. Although we 
     may only recognize their sacrifices and suffering on certain 
     holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day, their legacy 
     is all around us every day. In every military cemetery, the 
     gravestones there represent hundreds of other patriots who 
     have served our country and who continue to do so.
       To me, patriotism is a kind of heroism. When I saw my face 
     reflected in the shiny granite of the Vietnam Veterans 
     Memorial, The Wall, in Washington D.C., I was reminded of the 
     valor of those whose names are etched there and of the 
     courage of their loved ones.
       We Americans have always shown patriotism by honoring our 
     values and by envisioning freedoms for all. To me, patriotism 
     is the optimistic spirit and the deep-rooted soul of our 
     country, the United States of America.

  I would like to thank Heather Hull of Los Alamos, New Mexico, for 
allowing me the honor of reading her essay on patriotism in this time 
of need for our Nation. Thank you, Heather.

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