Show V patriotism essay contest winners announced The essay contest What Patriotism means to me was sponsored by the Social Studies Department in part to enhance the student appreciation for our country and to help honor Veterans on Veterans Day There were fourteen participants Three Social Studies teachers judged the papers Troy Peterson eighth grade was chosen as the first place winner Christie Delano ninth was chosen as the second place winner Carma Johnson eighth was chosen as the third place Following is Troy Petersons Peterson's winning essay Whet What It Be Patriotic Webster defines patriotism as love for or devotion to your country I am an American There is no court court- try great greater r than my country or a people as happy as we are I am an American because through some miracle I was blessed enough to tobe tobe be born here Because of this it is my responsibility to be the best citizen the best example and the most loyal servant possible My country cannot grow become stronger more powerful or continue to tobe tobe be free If its people are not all willing willingto to work together If we are always being critical of our leaders and our country we weare weare are not being patriotic Another way to show our patriotism is isby isby by showing proper respect for the flag We can do this by displaying it properly and by placing our right hand over our heart when It is present Some of the greatest acts of patriotism were those of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence These men gave all they had for their country They signed and they pledged their lives their fortunes and their sacred honor These men were not poor people Twenty four of them were lawyers and jurists Eleven were merchants nine were farmers and large plantation owners men of means well educated But they signed the Declaration of In- In Independence Independence dependence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died Twelve had their homes ran ran- ransacked sacked and burned Two lost their sons son in the Revolutionary Army another had two sons captured Nine of the six fifty and died from wounds or the hard hard- hardships hardships ships of the Revolutionary War Carter Braxton of Virginia a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags Thomas McKean was so hounded by bythe bythe the British that he was forced to move his f family amity almost constantly He served in the Congress without pay and his family was kept in hiding His posses posses- possessions possessions were taken from from him and poverty was his reward John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying their thirteen children fled for their lives His fields and his grist mill were laid waste For more than a year he lived in forests and caves returning home to find his wife dead his children vanished A few weeks later he died from e exhaustion and a broken heart These are just a few examples of how these men gave their all for their country The following is The Americans American's Creed which was accepted by the House of Representatives on behalf of the American people on April 3 1918 I think this fully explains patriotism and what we can do to be a good patriot pa I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people by the people for the people whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed a democracy in a republic a sovereign Nation of many sovereign states a perfect union one and inseparable i established upon those principles of freedom freedm equality justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it to support its Constitution tion to obey its laws to its flag and to defend it against all enemies |