OSMOND — Winners in the American Legion Auxiliary essay contest have shared those essays, which will be printed here as space permits. The following is from the first-place winner in seventh and eighth grades - Emmett Hoffman.
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“Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday and the veterans who fought for our freedom”
This year marks America’s 250th year being a nation. This great nation of America has been through difficult times in its early years and it could have failed easily, but with the help of our veterans, it is still living on to 250 years.
That is why this 250th anniversary means so much to America and its citizens.
One of the main reasons America has reached the milestone of 250 years is because of those brave veterans who have fought the wars to keep not only us safe, but the land we live on. America has been through 12 major wars; this includes the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, the Mexican-American Wars, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the War on Terror. Their dedication and sacrifice can be seen through these devastating wars.
Without these honorable veterans, this great nation would not be here today.
Their dangerous sacrifice led to the survival of this country and the protection of our freedoms, homes, and the land that we still stand on today. Everything that we freely do today has been protected and secured by our veterans. For example, they've safeguarded our Constitution and our Amendment rights like our freedom of speech, religion, owning a firearm, press, our freedom of getting an education and a job that we actually get to choose. However, these freedoms were not free, as they were relentlessly fought for with dedication and willingness.
These veterans that have protected our freedoms and liberties should be showered with our utmost respect. This 250th anniversary is a celebration that recognizes their efforts and sacrifices, a celebration that matters not only because of these veterans, but because, as a country, we’ve dealt with hardships and struggles and everything that has been thrown at us.
This 250th anniversary means so much more than a birthday. It keeps history alive by honoring our veterans and remembering our past, because the future
that we strive for is not easily earned or given. It is founded and fought for. As Lyndon B. Johnson said, "Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow
is ours to win or to lose.”
