[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E557-E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING CAROL L. RUPPRECHT ON WINNING THE 2004 VOICE OF 
               DEMOCRACY BROADCAST SCRIPTWRITING CONTEST

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                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to stand 
before you today to recognize the achievements of a fine Westfield High 
School student, Carol Rupprecht, of Carmel, Indiana. Ms. Rupprecht--
sponsored by VFW Post 10207 in Westfield, IN--has been named a winner 
in the 2004 National Voice of Democracy Program and recipient of the 
Department of Connecticut and Auxiliary Scholarship.
  Each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its 
Ladies Auxiliary conduct a Voice of Democracy audio and essay 
competition designed to give high school students the opportunity to 
voice their opinion on their responsibility to our country. This year, 
more than 80,000 secondary school students participated in this contest 
competing for 59 national scholarships. The contest theme for this year 
was ``My Commitment to America's Future.''
  I am respectfully requesting that Ms. Rupprecht's winning essay, 
entitled ``My Commitment to America's Future,'' be submitted to the 
Congressional Record for my colleagues' review.
  We're always talking about the future. Our guidance counselors try to 
prepare us for it; stockbrokers try to predict it; scientists discuss 
their hopes and ideas for it.
  But it inevitably ends up that we cannot know and pencil in every 
detail of what will happen in days to come. But we can influence the 
future through what we do in the present and what we commit to do in 
the future. A commitment is not just a promise in a valiant speech or a 
fleeting charitable intention. A commitment is a set of actions that 
follow up on one's intentions.
  When September 11th recharged our devotion to America, we began to 
exhibit this renewed commitment by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance 
more frequently at school. We have recited it from memory since we were 
in elementary school, but this renewal of tradition got me thinking. 
What exactly am I promising? Am I only pledging to be loyal to this 
country, or does it entail more than that? To me, it does.
  In order to outline all that my pledge of allegiance involves, I have 
created the acronym PLEDGE: Protect, Lead, Education, Dedicate, Give, 
and Elect. This will ensure that I never forget what I owe America.
  The first letter of PLEDGE is ``P.'' I will protect the ideals of 
America--the values that make our country stand out from the rest. The 
determination to protect these ideals was epitomized in the hearts of 
the veterans such as those who will forever be remembered at the Korean 
Memorial in Washington D.C. As I passed the silent statues of these men 
forever frozen in their quest for freedom, I knew that they had made 
the ultimate commitment to the preservation of America and its values. 
They were assigned a duty and didn't back down. The valor and 
selflessness that these soldiers demonstrated are qualities I should 
strive to imitate.
  The second letter of PLEDGE is ``L.'' I will lead my fellow 
Americans, especially the youth of America, and I will encourage them 
to follow the examples of our forefathers, our war veterans, and of 
past and present patriots. I, too, will endeavor to set an example 
worth following.
  The next letter in PLEDGE is ``E.'' I will educate myself on our 
nation's history and the sacrifices of veterans who enabled us to have 
a history. I will then be able to share what I learn with others.
  The fourth letter, ``D,'' stands for ``dedicate.'' I will dedicate my 
time, energy, and talents to making the most of the opportunities 
America has given to me. I will study hard; I will work hard. I won't 
let my dreams become wilted flowers that could have thrived. Instead, 
I'll sow discipline, determination, and faith and cultivate my field of 
dreams.
  The letter ``G'' in PLEDGE stands for ``give.'' I will give my 
services to the community and my prayers for the people of America, 
especially its leaders. As author Carolyn Simpson said in her book The 
Value of Patriotism, ``Patriotism boils down essentially to one thing: 
giving something back to your community.'' I, too, believe that one of 
the best ways to show a love for one's country is to show love for its 
people.
  The final letter in PLEDGE, ``E,'' stands for ``elect.'' When I reach 
the voting age, I will ensure that my voice is heard by electing 
government officials. My vote will have an effect on America's future, 
in the same way that my actions today will affect America's future.
  We, the youth of America, are its future. The veterans who went 
before us fought and sacrificed to secure our freedom, and we are now 
reaping the benefits of what they sowed. Let's do the same not only for 
our own generation but also for those that follow. Let's make a PLEDGE 
to Protect, Lead, Educate, Dedicate, Give, and Elect.

[[Page E558]]

  God has richly blessed America, and America has given much to each of 
us. So what will I give back? What is my commitment to America's 
future? I will wake up each morning with a renewed determination to 
serve my God and my country. I will appreciate those who were and are 
committed to America, and I will endeavor to be counted among them.

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