[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SPEECH GIVEN BY BEZALEL BRIAN BENSON FOR THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS 
                       AUXILIARY STATE CONVENTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I call your attention to the work of the 
Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA), Oakland Unit No. 7 with 
students in my community. We are particularly proud of the speech that 
twelve year old Bezalel Brian Benson delivered at the annual 
Americanism program held February 14, 1998. The inspiring quality of 
this speech moves me to share it with you.
  Bez, as he is called, is an outstanding student at St. Joseph's 
Elementary School. He came to the attention of DAVA because of two 
essays which won first place in the DAVA State contests held in 1997 
and 1998 entitled: ``Why I Love America'' and ``What the Flag Means To 
Me.'' The following is the text of his speech of February 14th:

       Good afternoon. To the California State Senior Vice 
     Commander Donna Stennett, junior State Commander Evonne Oden, 
     Acting Commander of the Auxiliary for Unit #7 Pat Kinzel, Co-
     chairman Gloria Almodovar; Members of the Auxiliary and 
     honored guests.
       It is a blessing to be here this afternoon. It was an honor 
     to win the overall contest of the district last year, and to 
     win first place in the California State Disabled American 
     Veterans Essay Contest. I was also blessed with receiving a 
     personal letter from the President of the United States, 
     President Bill Clinton, a flag flown over our nation's 
     Capitol, and a letter of authenticity.
       Over the last year, I have maintained my status as an ``A'' 
     student, I was appointed to the journalism team at St. Joseph 
     Elementary School, and again made it to the school's spelling 
     bee finals. Because of God's blessings and freedom of our 
     nation, these achievements were made possible.
       At this time I would like to talk about why we should show 
     appreciation through our actions for the war veteran's 
     tremendous efforts.
       After learning about the history of America throughout my 
     life, I have realized just how much effort, courage, and 
     bravery it took to make America a free country and a great 
     one as well.
       Over the years Americans have sacrificed for what they 
     believed in. The 13 colonies in North America sacrificed by 
     bravely rebelling against England and going through many 
     hardships and conflicts. They did this for the cause of 
     freedom. The war veterans, the government of the United 
     States, and even U.S. citizens sacrificed during both World 
     War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and 
     even the war on Bosnia. They did this because they believed 
     in fighting for people's rights and the gift of freedom. 
     Change often comes by sacrifice and that is what Americans 
     have done.
       After imaging how I would have felt participating in a war, 
     I realized that times were pretty scary. It must have been 
     hard having bullets whizzing past your head, and the ground 
     shaking beneath your feet because of cannon fire. It must 
     have been hard running on the battlefield, dodging bullets, 
     with explosions all around you. It must have been hard living 
     every day with the fear of death, and not knowing if you will 
     ever see your families again.
       Yet these war veterans who stood up to their country 
     succeeded during these hardships because they had strength 
     from God and a strong love for America.
       When you have God in your life, and you love Him truly and 
     honestly, and you call upon Him for guidance, you will have 
     an inner strength that no person or thing can take away from 
     you. A strength so powerful, that not even the fear of death 
     can destroy it. I'm sure that these war veterans had strength 
     from God and a strong love for America.
       Because of the veterans' efforts in these wars, they helped 
     America become one of the greatest countries on the face of 
     the earth. Because of their love and sacrifice we live in a 
     nation today that is governed by a fair and democratic 
     government. Because of their efforts they helped protect not 
     only the rights of Americans over the years, but the rights 
     of other people throughout the world as well.
       I believe that all Americans should show appreciation for 
     the veterans' tremendous effort. We must realize that many 
     people died for us! We must realize that someone lost an arm, 
     or lost their legs for the sake of our freedom. So don't you 
     think that we should do our part, and give something back to 
     them, by helping to make America the best country it can be? 
     Our veterans fought and died for America, so shouldn't we 
     take care of the country they loved, and continue to make it 
     a better place for all of us? If we don't, we will literally 
     ruin and destroy our country, and all the efforts of our war 
     veterans will be wasted. One person cannot make America a 
     great country. But if we all try to be the best Christians we 
     can be, America will continue to be a wonderful nation.
       If we do this, then the 12,000 Americans who died for us in 
     World War II alone would have died to make America a great 
     country and not for any reason at all. If we do this, then 
     the men and women who died for our freedom, the men that lost 
     their limbs, the families whose men and women became widows, 
     the children who would never see their parents again will 
     know that they fought for a worthy cause. If we do this, 
     America, will continue to be a great nation, and the war 
     veterans' efforts will not be wasted.
       As Americans we must follow the example of the war 
     veterans. In our everyday lives, we must show bravery, 
     courage, and effort through our actions, whether it is in the 
     work force, taking care of a child, or trying to make 
     people's lives better through science and technology. We must 
     take care of the standards of living that the war veterans 
     helped to give us.
       If all the people in this diverse culture act in a superb 
     manner everyday, then our country will be superb as well. 
     That is why I would like to be the very best person I can be. 
     I would like to follow the example of the war veterans, and 
     give something back to these courageous fighters.
       I and many other youth my age will try to do our best to 
     continue to carry the torch for freedom. We should and we 
     will have God as the guidance of our lives as we try to lead 
     the United States into the 21st century.
       With God as my leader, I will try to walk on the roads of 
     life with the Holy Spirit as my light and I will try to use 
     the lessons that the war veterans have taught me to overcome 
     life's obstacles and challenges. The war veterans have made a 
     tremendous impact on all our lives, and all of us as 
     Americans must continue to carry the touch of freedom.
       I would like to thank you for inviting me here today, and I 
     praise the Lord for allowing me to live in a country I love, 
     the United States of America.

     

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