[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18316]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF KRUSHI PATEL AND HER WINNING SUBMISSION TO THE 2015 
 VETERANS DAY ESSAY CONTEST FROM NEW YORK'S 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

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                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winner of 
the 2015 Veterans Day essay contest from New York's 14th Congressional 
District. Krushi Patel, a student from I.S. 61 in Corona, Queens 
submitted the winning essay on the topic, ``What Veterans Day Means To 
Me.'' Krushi's essay reads as follows:
  Veterans, whether they are in the army, navy, or marines, put their 
lives at stake for the safety and security of others. These people 
spend day and night away from those they love, just so that we can be 
close to those we love. They are on the border and in battle so that we 
can live a life with peace and freedom. They do so much for us, that it 
would be impossible to pay them back. That is why we should honor all 
veterans for their heroism and determination on Veterans Day. We should 
tell them that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they took to keep us 
and our country safe; that they will always have a special place in our 
hearts. It's not easy to be away from your family, for months and years 
at a time. The thought of it brings tears in our eyes. However, for the 
security and honor of our nation, they put their families one step 
behind. These people do what may seem unimaginable for most people. 
These people volunteer themselves for the nation they were born in. 
That is why we salute them.
  Last year, on December, 15, 2014, my class went to a Veterans' 
Organization. We met various former soldiers from wars like World War 
II and the Vietnamese War. These people were so inspiring. They told 
stories. These people were a primary source of these historic wars. We 
got to learn from people who had been eyewitnesses. They became idols 
to me. They had fought for our country with persistence and bravery. 
However, they didn't ask for anything in return. They had no stove or 
TV. These people were so delighted to see us. We sang Christmas carols. 
We didn't really want to leave. We were years apart in age, but that 
didn't get in the way of us having a good time.
  Veterans Day is a time to thank all former and current veterans, a 
time to thank them for fighting for our freedom and peace. It's a day 
when I spend some of my time to respect and look up to those who put 
themselves in danger for the benefit of strangers. That is why we tell 
them that they are true heroes. Veterans fought for peace and freedom 
in this world. We must thank and salute these people. Veterans Day is a 
time to be proud of being an American.
  Veterans Day is about the love and devotion you have for the country 
that you are willing to cut your life short for it. The respect 
veterans have for our country and its people is why they are willing to 
leave their family behind for service. The love that burns inside of 
them for this nation is so great. ``Some people live an entire lifetime 
and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the 
Marines don't have that problem.''--Ronald Reagan

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