By Brenda Erdahl
Maple Lake sixth graders were given the opportunity to participate in the annual VFW sponsored Patriots Pen Essay Contest. The theme was “What are the greatest attributes of our democracy.” Five students chose to write a 300-to-400-word essay to participate in the contest. Winners have the chance to compete at district, state, and national level competitions to win prestige and prizes. Out of the five students who participated, two students were selected to read their essays at the Thursday, Nov. 9 Veterans Day Program at the Maple Lake High School Auditorium. They were Kyle Harper and Avi Skay. Read their full essay below.
How are you inspired by America?
By Kyle Harper
America inspires me in many ways. First of all, the U.S. Military is full of brave men and women who fight for our lives and freedom every day. These courageous soldiers who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard inspire me to be brave each and every day. I am very thankful to live in a country where many brave men and women are risking their lives for mine.
Another reason America inspires me is our culture. We Americans are always thinking about equality, a respect for working hard, and a positive outlook towards the future. The people that live in this country are very loyal to our nation and show a lot of patriotism. Kids will leave home for long periods of time due to our thinking that individual achievement is more valuable and respected than group achievement. Our culture inspires me to show equality, independence, and loyalty to my wonderful nation.
Next, I would like to talk about how I am inspired by our economy. We, as a nation, have developed a working system which allows us to buy needs for ourselves and our families. The main way you can generate income in this country is through job skills, which not only gets things done around our nation, but also provides many opportunities in which we can use to gain necessities in our lives, whether it be food, drink, shelter, or warmth. The economy setup has inspired me to be grateful for what I have, as I do not currently work a job of my own.