[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE 2002 VFW VOICE OF DEMOCRACY AWARD WINNER MEGHAN 
                       PASRICHA OF VFW POST 2863

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2002

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Meghan Pasricha, a Delawarean and winner of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars' 2002 Voice Of Democracy Scholarship Contest. Each year the VFW 
and its Ladies Auxiliary give high school students an opportunity to 
vocalize their duty and patriotism for the United States by drafting 
broadcast scripts addressing their view of a citizen's duties to 
America.
  Out of the 84,000 students who submitted scripts on the theme of 
``Reaching Out to America's Future,'' Meghan was one of 58 winners 
throughout the United States, and the First Place winner for Delaware's 
Local VFW Post 2863.
  In a year when many citizens' faith was shaken and so many Americans 
are in search of a voice of hope for our Nation's future, Meghan's 
essay touched the highest aspirations of the American spirit and called 
for increased patriotism, activism and unity. This excerpt from her 
winning essay is a testament to her role as a future leader:

       ``Although the hearts of Americans are saddened by the 
     recent tragedy, the American Spirit soars higher. The pace of 
     change is suddenly accelerated. Even war has changed. In the 
     future, our military will not only wage was the terrorists 
     and enemies, but will also wage campaigns to win the hearts 
     of unknown victims in foreign countries. I strongly believe 
     that Americans will see this time as an opportunity to 
     reinvent ourselves and move forward.''

  I would like to acknowledge the dedication and resolve that Meghan 
has shown toward her own future and the future of her country. Through 
the generous outreach of the United States VFW and Ladies Auxiliary, 
young people like Meghan around the our Nation are able to vocalize 
their dedication to America and find within themselves how they will 
shape the future for themselves and their fellow citizens.
  I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating Meghan and all 
of the 2002 VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest award winners.

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