[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21396-21397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   WHAT DOES AMERICANISM MEAN TO ME?

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you the 
inspirational message of a perceptive eighth grader, Tess Spinola, 
winner of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA) annual State 
Essay Contest. The contest, which began in 1948, was held throughout 
the East Bay Area of San Francisco. This year's question was ``What 
does Americanism mean to me?'' Tess attends St. Joseph's Elementary 
School in Alameda, CA in my district.
  Founded on March 5, 1947, the Oakland Unit (#7) Auxiliary of DAVA 
brought together wives, sisters, daughters and mothers of those injured 
or disabled during wartime. The group of women decided at that time to 
dedicate their efforts to give back to the nation in a variety of ways. 
They work with local youth to bring more of America's young people to 
community service. Not all their work is purely organization, of 
course. DAVA created 100 baby quilts and gave them to nearby Highland 
Hospital, along with hand-made wheelchair bags and lap ropes for 
veterans. A few women in the Oakland Unit put on a party for people 
with Alzheimer's disease; others chair an Olympics for those with 
disabilities. In the words of Eva Mae Perakis, past state commander, 
``Our main purpose is to stimulate patriotism in the country and bring 
joy and awareness to the community.''
  Ms. Perakis described the essay contest as ``overwhelmingly heart-
warming.'' She said she receives letters from students who said it 
enriched their young lives to study and learn about veterans. ``They 
realize they didn't really appreciate those freedoms they took for 
granted,'' she noted. Ms. Perakis also noted that the essays have 
``touched a few adult hearts as well.''
  ``The contest causes our children to think and investigate inside 
themselves,'' Ms. Perakis said. ``It's good for their minds. We're just 
trying to make our young students aware of what freedom really means. 
We hope they get that awareness as they write.'' Mr. Speaker, we all 
know that our children represent the future, and that someday they will 
be running this great country of ours. But, their impact frequently 
comes much before their maturation to adulthood. As any parent can tell 
you, today's youth has a knack for giving us adults a few important 
lessons. Tess Spinola's essay does just that.

                   What Does Americanism Mean To Me?

                           (By Tess Spinola)

       Americanism is such a powerful word with so many meanings. 
     It is the equivalent of struggles, worries, doubts and fears, 
     that all led, eventually, to astounding triumphs that define 
     who we are, and the country we live in. It is the feeling of 
     freedom as we lay our hands over our hearts and pledge to the 
     flag; a flag that symbolizes the blood, sweat, and tears of 
     Americans in the past, present and future; it is the pride 
     and patriotism that only an American can truly understand. 
     Most importantly, Americanism means something different for 
     each of us.
       Americanism means Victory to me; it means the success in 
     the quest for independence by the Colonist in the 
     Revolutionary War, symbolizing that America and its citizens 
     are people that will fight to the end, and will prevail in 
     the darkest of situations. Americanism, to me, also means 
     Freedom. It is the heart and passion of the Northern states 
     in the Civil War, fighting for four years for the freedom of 
     their African American brothers and sisters. It means Unity 
     to me, because when joined together as one, we are 
     unstoppable. More recently, and for the first time, 
     Americanism means Compassion for me. It is the New York fire 
     fighters, encased in the ash, smoke, fire and despair, as the 
     Trade Centers were minutes from crumbling to the ground. It 
     is the moments that they climbed up those smoky stairs, 
     risking their lives just for the hope that they could save 
     the life of another. It is the way that Americans have shaken 
     off the September 11th attacks and helped each other 
     recuperate; turning defeat into a lesson we will learn from 
     and grow because of for the rest of our lives. Americanism is 
     a word and a meaning shared throughout our country, by 
     everyone, yet it is also something very personal for me.
       When I walk into my Catholic Church, and I am able to take 
     Communion, and have a relationship with God in my own way, I 
     know what Americanism means. When I leave the Basilica that 
     day, and go to friend's house that is a Jew, or a Baptist, or 
     one that has no religion at all, I know what Americanism 
     means. When I am allowed to enjoy the Diversity surrounding 
     me everywhere I go, and love all people I meet as my equal, 
     Americanism has its most profound meaning for me. To be an 
     American is to be a person of God, accepting, acknowledging, 
     respecting and loving all people. It is what we have fought 
     through, what we have strived for, what we are still fighting 
     for in many ways, and what we have the chance to live 
     everyday of our lives.
       Yet, Americanism, like anything, also means Change and 
     Growth. Not only do we acknowledge that we need to change and 
     grow in many ways, but we strive toward it everyday of our 
     lives. We look forward to once again realizing our faults, 
     defeating them, and growing because of them. Americanism is 
     not represented for me through the war we may be going into 
     with Iraq; in fact the war is America turning its back on 
     everything we stand for. But it does mean to me the hundreds 
     of people lining up to protest the war in San Francisco. 
     These people know what Americanism means; freedom and right 
     to protest, which is something that seems like such a basic 
     right, but in reality, was fought for and earned by our 
     founding fathers. These people are living out what we have 
     fought for throughout our country's entire history, and when 
     I see them on the front page newspaper, I know why I am proud 
     to be an American.
       In short, Americanism means Victory, Freedom, Unity, 
     Compassion, Diversity, Change, and Growth. It is the triumph 
     and the pride in the tears that run down the

[[Page 21397]]

     cheeks of America's citizens as they hold their hands to 
     their hearts and ponder for what seems like the first time, 
     every time, the meaning of their National Anthem. It is alive 
     in each and every one of us, and we must strive to be a real 
     American everyday; the sum of what we have fought for, and 
     what we have learned. As I watch people of all races, 
     nationalities, religions and histories live together as 
     equals, as I gaze at our flag, waving in the cool air of a 
     young sunny day, as I observe the sparks of fireworks on the 
     Fourth of July, bursting triumphantly and fluttering back to 
     the ground in a glowing sparkle, I know what Americanism 
     means to me. What does it mean to you?

                          ____________________