[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING VFW CONTEST WINNER BENJAMIN S. HAMPTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ERNIE FLETCHER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, in this new found era of patriotism, it is 
fitting that I recognize in the Congressional Record the winning essay 
of the 2001-2002 VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest, written by 
Benjamin S. Hampton of Frankfort, Kentucky, entitled ``Reaching Out to 
America's Future,'' and included below.

       Since the horrific attacks of September 11, the American 
     people have undoubtedly experienced a dramatic shift in 
     patriotic sentiment. The attacks by the radical al-Qaeda 
     terrorist network have caused Americans to unite in defense 
     of the ideals and principles on which our nation was built. 
     The very rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence 
     and the Constitution came under attack on September 11, and 
     Americans have unified in an effort to protect their freedoms 
     and ensure that these rights will not be infringed upon. In 
     doing so, they have displayed a steadfast patriotism and 
     loyalty to our country unparalleled in nearly all of history.
       Yet, as the weeks pass and the memories of September 11 are 
     only worsened by the newer threats to our national security, 
     the overall patriotic emotion in our great nation seems to be 
     fading. Following a tremendous, nationwide surge in 
     patriotism in the few weeks following the original attacks, 
     patriotic fervency has begun to dwindle. Therefore, it is 
     evident that we must make every effort possible to maintain 
     and even further bolster this historic degree of patriotism. 
     We must secure full and unconditional support by the American 
     people for the government that represents them, and must 
     assure all Americans that the United States will survive as a 
     freedom-loving democracy for centuries to come.
       In order to achieve this end, it is clearly evident that we 
     must utilize our greatest resource, the youth of America. By 
     targeting this precious resource we can reach out to the 
     future of America by providing the youth of today with the 
     ideals of patriotism and love of country that they will most 
     certainly need tomorrow. In being exposed to patriotic 
     attitudes, today's youth can lead the America of tomorrow 
     headstrong into the future as the brightest beacon for hope 
     and freedom that the world has ever seen.
       With the intention of instilling the ideals of patriotism 
     and love of country in our Nation's youth, we must revert to 
     the practice of teaching citizenship in our nation's schools. 
     We must look beyond simply requiring a civics course in our 
     high schools, and must look beyond the customary study of 
     government in fifth grade classrooms. While such education is 
     necessary and very meaningful, however, it is not adequate in 
     and of itself. Instead, we must saturate our educational 
     system with constant lessons in citizenship and patriotism, 
     and must even extend such citizenship education into the 
     home.
       The simple act of teaching patriotic songs in our schools, 
     for example, would serve to make youth better appreciate and 
     value their citizenship. Having schools lead students in the 
     recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance each morning before 
     classes begin and having students be responsible for 
     ceremoniously raising and lowering the flag each day would 
     also augment the effort to increase patriotic awareness in 
     our nation's schools.
       At home, parents should promote the adoption of behaviors 
     of good citizens for all family members. Encouraging the 
     entire family to eat healthy, maintain good personal hygiene 
     and to obey all rules would cause parents and children alike 
     to realize their duty in building a safer and healthier 
     community. Furthermore, parents should emphasize the duties 
     of every citizen to fulfill their obligations to serve on 
     juries, pay taxes and serve in the military. Such ideas are 
     not new but have simply been removed from the national 
     spotlight. Now is the time to commit these behaviors to 
     everyday practice. As Edwin C. Broome and Edwin W. Adams 
     remind us in their Conduct and Citizenship, ``Character is a 
     nation's strength. The nations of earth that, like the Roman 
     Empire, have been overthrown, were not defeated by outside 
     enemies, but by their own failure to live up to high 
     standards of national character.''
       Therefore, it is every citizen's duty to not only live up 
     to such standards, but to instill in our nation's youth the 
     importance of patriotism and citizenship in everyday life. It 
     is our nation's livelihood that relies on this commitment. In 
     order to ensure that the United States remains the brightest 
     beacon for hope and freedom in the world, it is crucial that 
     we reach out to the future of our nation. We must educate the 
     youth of today in the morals of patriotism and loyalty that 
     they will need tomorrow. We cannot allow to be lost another 
     opportunity to reinstate such ideals. Now is the time to act, 
     to reach out to the future of our Nation, and to stand up and 
     say that America will triumph over the evil in our world.

     

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