2002-2003
Essay Contest
A certificate was presented to Principal Ms Helen Herndon for their wall of fame, each winner received a $25.00 Gift Certificate from Barne’s & Noble, $15 for Second, and $10 for third, plus a trophy and Certificate from The American Legion Post 27. Teacher and middle school coordinator Don Roberts said "We feel it is important for our students to understand the basic principals upon which our nation was founded and why these ideals continue to stand the test of time. We are proud of our partnership with The American Legion in promoting patriotism and enhancing the citizenship education of our students."
Post Commander Bill Helms said “ The members of Post 27 want to especially thank our three sponsors of this years contest. We could not do this with out them and their support of Legion School Programs is a boon to this community.” Over 400 students submitted essays in the following categories, 6th Grade- 125 word essay “ How does the US Constitution affect me?”, 7th grade- 250 word essay “What is the price of Freedom and who pays it?”, and 8th Grade- 500 word essay “What are the duties and responsibilities of Citizenship?”. The 1st place essays follow:
By
Laila Ali
Before I researched the U.S constitution I had no clue what it was all about, or how it affected me. When I researched it on the Internet I was surprised by how many ways it did affect me! Here are some of the things I learned:
The U.S constitution allows me my inherent rights. Some of these rights guarantee my freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right to bear a weapon, and the right for a trial if accused of a crime.
Amendments have also been added to the constitution to guarantee my specific rights and to solve other problems. There are twenty-seven amendments. Some of these rights are the right for men and women to vote, the end of slavery, that the government protects people against excessive fines or cruel punishment, and much, much more.
I think the two most important amendments are the right of freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. I think freedom of religion is important because we should be able to believe in who, or what we want. I also think freedom of speech is great because it allows us to say what we think and feel. If you think about it we wouldn’t really be free without these two amendments. The U.S constitution is the country’s most important document. It allows me to live the life of a free person in a free country. These rights are the best that one can hope for.
What is the Price of Freedom?
Who Pays for it?
By: Corina Taylor
Many people wonder what the price of freedom is and who pays for it. Well, I think I know the answer to both questions.
I believe the veterans mainly paid for freedom because they fought for our country. There are also other including US Navy, USAF. Military, Police Officers, Firefighters, MIA, POW, Army, and the Union Soldiers. Then there are the ones who might not have fought or even been acknowledged for serving their country, but they still helped. They include military nurses, the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, and even every day men and women.
Now how do they pay for it? There are good ways they pay for it that we want to remember. Then there are the ones we try to forget. Now, the ones we want to remember and stay in our hearts forever are the bravery, dedication, service, rights, honor ,risk, pride, love, and faith. But in all those good things there are the ones we want to forget like the horror they saw, the blood they shed, the deaths, and last but not least the tears of family and friends when they receive a letter telling them that a family member whether it be a sister, mother, daughter, brother, father, son, or friend had died serving their country.
Now for all those people who take freedom for granted, they need to stop and think about what freedom truly is, and about all those who have given so much for that freedom.
“No, freedom is not free!! It was paid for by this old veteran, it was paid for by the blood of his buddies. Freedom is not free, it was paid for by a dear price. So Lord God, please have mercy on their souls” By Sid Shown
God Bless the USA Love, Corina Taylor
Allen Martin
What are the duties and responsibilities of citizenship?
To be a citizen in the United States of America is an awesome privilege. American citizenship allows us certain rights that citizens of many other nations do not have. Along with those rights, Americans have duties and responsibilities to their country and countrymen. These rights, duties and responsibilities are all related and with one comes the other.
In America, our basic rights came to be through the Constitution of the United States. In the Constitution, our forefathers set up the basics for our democratic nation by establishing different branches of government and by providing basic laws and rights for American citizens. Then, in the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights gave us additional rights that most of us are familiar with such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, the right to bear arms, and the right to a trial by a jury. In all, there are twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution, including the right to vote and the duty to pay taxes.
With our basic rights as Americans, come certain duties or responsibilities that we, as citizens , must uphold. Most people complain about paying taxes, but the payment of taxes is a duty that all American’s have which is demanded by law. The duty of men to register for the draft at age eighteen is also demanded by law, but the responsibility of defending our country is the duty of every citizen. This does not just include serving our country in the military. It means speaking out against people who threaten democracy here, and in other nations. It also means displaying patriotism and showing pride in our country, its causes and its beliefs. It is also the duty of every registered American voter to vote in all elections. We are given the privilege, as American citizens, to vote in this democratic nation, yet so many take the right to vote for granted.
The United States of America, although not without its problems, is the best nation to be a citizen of. Here in America, we have the right to speak out against the things we feel are wrong and the right to vote for the President and Congress who make our laws. As a citizen, I feel the responsibility and duty to obey laws of this great nation. I am thankful to have been born an American citizen and to have the privileges that come with my citizenship.
Many people do not realize that many of their every day actions are duties and responsibilities of citizenship of this great nation. The renewed patriotism that we have seen since the horrifying terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,is a prime example. The strong patriotic outpouring in support of our democratic nation and the instinctive need to help one another was not demanded by law, but many felt it was their duty all the same. Spoken or unspoken, our responsibilities and duties to our country ring loud and clear- as loud as if the Liberty Bell, itself, was ringing.