[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SAN MATEO SCHOOL STUDENTS DISCUSS WHAT THE AMERICAN FLAG STANDS FOR

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 2002

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues six of my constituents who have been selected winners in a 
very important essay contest. The six were authors of first, second, 
and third place winners in an Americanism essay competition for school 
children in grades 5 and 6 and in grades 7 and 8.
  This contest was designed to promote and encourage patriotism. The 
theme for this year's competition was ``What the Flag of the United 
States Stands For.'' The competition was sponsored by lodge No. 1112 of 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks in San Mateo, 
California. I want to commend the Elks for their public-spirited effort 
in sponsoring this competition in order to foster a spirit of 
patriotism among the young people of our country.
  The two first place winners were Julian Zhukivsky from Park 
Elementary School and Salone Kapur from Borel Middle School. The second 
place winners were Michael Kruger of Abbott Middle School and Martin 
Rofael of Bayside Middle School. The third place winners were Robert 
Gill of St. Timothy School and Brian Dunn of St. Gregory School.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend these outstanding students for their excellent 
essays and for their thoughtful expressions of patriotism. After the 
events of September 11th, the flag has become a heightened symbol of 
our national unity and pride.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that these six excellent essays be placed in the 
Congressional Record, and I urge my colleagues to read them.

First Place Winner (Grades 7 & 8): Salone Kapur What the American Flag 
                               Stands For

       One June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed an act 
     to establish an official flag for America. Today, the 
     American Flag is eminent in all public places. The flag means 
     a significant amount in people's lives.
       The American flag is a symbol of our nation's unity, and is 
     a source of pride and inspiration for all its citizens. We 
     all come from different backgrounds, but here, we all unite 
     and belong in one big family.

       Second Place Winner (Grades 7 & 8): Martin Rofael Our Flag

       What does the flag of the United States stand for? We 
     always stand and salute, but some of us don't know what it 
     represents. Our flag has a tremendous story. On July 4, 1776 
     the Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies free from 
     the British to be the United States of America.
       The fifty stars on our flag represent the fifty states. The 
     white color on the flag represents purity and innocence. The 
     blue background color on the flag represents vigilance, 
     perseverance, and justice.
       The 13 stripes on our flag represent the first 13 colonies. 
     There are seven red stripes and six white stripes. The red 
     color represents hardiness and valor.
       Some flags have fringe, which resembles honorable 
     enrichment. Also some flags have a gold trim which has no 
     meaning.
       That is what the flag of the United States of America 
     means. It has awesome and tremendous meaning.

 Third Place Winner (Grades 7 & 8): Brian Dunn The Meaning of the Flag

       The flag represents many different things. The stripes 
     represent the 13 original colonies and the stars represent 
     the fifty states. It also represents our freedom, our 
     religion, and the freedom to express however we feel. To the 
     people in the United States the flag represents peace, love, 
     courage, bravery and freedom. The flag is an inspiration to 
     all of those who see it to be all that they can be. It also 
     represents opportunity, the opportunity to succeed and become 
     successful at whatever you want to be. But, most of all, the 
     American flag represents the greatest country ever to inhabit 
     this earth.

 First Place Winner (Grades 5 & 6): Julian Zhukovsky The American Flag

       I think the flag of the United States stands for liberty 
     and justice for all. We are all equal and have the same 
     rights. We are made of many cultures and religions. We are 
     united and we are one nation under God.
       I think the white stripes on the flag stand for the purity 
     of ideals. The red stripes on the flag stand for the blood of 
     the people who fought in the war for independence in 1776. 
     The stripes together stand for the original thirteen colonies 
     that gave birth to the fifty states with their name of glory.
       The fifty stars on the flag stand for the fifty states of 
     our country. They are like bright stars glistening high above 
     in the sky. Our country's flag will shine forever with those 
     stars. Today, after the terrorist attack on September 11th, 
     thousands of Americans have put up their American flags. They 
     did it to show the world that we still stand for liberty and 
     justice for all.

Second Place Winner (Grades 5 & 6): Michael Kruger What the Flag of the 
                        United States Stands For

       The United States flag stands for freedom, justice, 
     equality, hope and faith. The freedom to live wherever you 
     want to live and be free. Freedom also allows us the freedom 
     of speech to say whatever we want. Justice is to be held 
     accountable for the laws of our country and to be treated 
     fairly. Equality is for all people to be treated equal. The 
     faith in people to keep our country free. The flag also gives 
     me hope and faith for my family, country and myself. When I 
     see the United States Flag I feel very proud and lucky to be 
     living in America. Everything on the American flag means 
     something. There are thirteen stripes, seven are red and six 
     are white. There is a blue box in the upper corner with fifty 
     stars in it. The stripes represent the thirteen colonies and 
     the stars represent the fifty states.

  Third Place Winner (Grades 5 & 6): Robert Gill What the Flag of the 
                        United States Stands For

       To me and for a lot of other Americans the flag is a symbol 
     of peace. There have been some difficult times but our flag 
     will always stand for peace. I think it stands for the peace 
     because it also stands for a peaceful country. That flag 
     stands for the people who love it. Everybody should know it 
     as a sign of peace and justice.
       The flag also stands for being united and having liberty. 
     When people say ``united we stand'' they don't mean just 
     Americans, they mean everybody. Everybody does or should know 
     that. The flag is more than just something that waves in the 
     air, it's something we should cherish. The American Flag 
     stands for you and me, and everyone else in this country and 
     everyone who loves it too.
       As you can see the flag stands for peace, justice, liberty, 
     and our rights. That's why I'm proud of it!

     

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