[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       ``MY SERVICE TO AMERICA''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 1999

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to recognize and honor 
Eleanor Forbes. She is the recipient of the 1998-1999 VFW Voice of 
Democracy Scholarship Competition. Eleanor wrote a very moving and 
patriotic account of American democracy. I ask that the text of her 
script be inserted into the Record in its entirety at the completion of 
my remarks. Once again, I am proud to recognize Ms. Eleanor Forbes.

``My Service to America''--1998-1999 VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship 
                              Competition

                 (Pennsylvania Winner--Eleanor Forbes)

       The voice you hear now is the voice of an American, a proud 
     American. This same voice pledges allegiance to our flag 
     every morning, and sings proudly along with our national 
     anthem when it is played. I am fifteen years old. I do not 
     have the resources to go out and change the world. I do not 
     have the money to give to all my fellow Americans who need 
     it, nor am I old enough to run for president or serve my 
     country in a war. But these are not the only ways I can serve 
     my country. My service to America is expressed in many other 
     ways.
       America has provided me with numerous opportunities for 
     which I am grateful. I have the opportunities of education, 
     participation in athletics, work, art and music, among other 
     things. It is my duty as an American to grasp these 
     opportunities firmly now, in my teenage years, so that I can 
     give back to my country later in life. I owe it to America to 
     be the best student I can be, to learn how to write and speak 
     properly, to spell correctly, and to read the intricate works 
     of the great American writers. I must learn to appreciate the 
     artistic and musical works of the great American artists, and 
     learn mathematics, science and history. It is my duty to 
     visit the numerous places that make up American history 
     books; to climb the steep steps of the Statue of Liberty and 
     feel the warmth of heart that the immigrants felt when they 
     first arrived in America. I need to look at the Liberty Bell 
     with glistening eyes and understand its full meaning. To be a 
     good American in the future, I must learn, understand, and 
     accept all of America's past.
       Right now, the opportunities to serve my country are 
     limited, but are, by no means, small. For the land itself, I 
     recycle, I put trash in the trashcans to keep our streets 
     clean. I plant trees to keep our environment healthy. For my 
     fellow citizens I keep myself clean and presentable, I work 
     hard for my money, and buy American products. I do not judge 
     others in an unjust manner, if at all. I abide by the great 
     laws of the country, and I keep myself up to date with the 
     current affairs of America. After all the opportunities and 
     services that America will have provided me by the time I am 
     twenty years old, I will be obliged, not by law but by 
     choice, to give back. I feel that the best way to help 
     America is to help others in the name of my country. I am 
     provided with such an opportunity by organizations like the 
     Peace Corps. Then, in my adult years, I shall be fully 
     prepared to choose a job that will help fellow Americans. I 
     shall work honestly, hard, and be a good citizen. I shall 
     vote and pay my taxes on time. All these things may seem 
     small and trivial to some, but to me, they are ways I can 
     give back to a country that has given so much to me.
       America is truly the land of opportunity. My service to 
     America is to grab all the opportunity that is thrown my way 
     and make the most out of it, so that later in my life as an 
     American I am able and ready to provide such an opportunity 
     for others.

     

                          ____________________