News Release
Morgan Putnam (left), winner of the 2010 Veterans Day Essay Contest,
stands with her teacher, Mrs. Kelly Zeigler,
at St. George after being presented with a
certificate of achievement.
2010 Veterans Day Essay Contest
Winner: Morgan Putnam
8th Grade, St. George School
Loyalty, a word that always comes to mind when I think of those who have honorably served our country. Whether it be up in the skies, under the water, or on land, our Veterans, despite the cost, have fought fearlessly and valiantly to keep this nation free. They fought so that we would never have to see the horrors of war, when they themselves were living through it. Veterans’ are by far the most selfless, altruistic people that I have ever met.
In my opinion, serving your country means that you as a person are willing to put your life on the line in order to defend our freedom. It means that you are obstinate in the fact that freedom does not come free. We can sleep in peace knowing that you are out there on the front lines keeping us safe, because to serve and protect is the code that you live by. Those who serve our country fight to protect our democracy and our independent Nation.
My grandfather asks me every day how school went, but I know that all he really cares about is what happened in social studies. As a Veteran himself he loves to tell me stories about the Korean War, and when I have homework in history he likes to help me, even though he spends half the time saying, “the book tells it all wrong, that’s not how it happened!” Regardless, I love him all the same and look up to him like a hero, while others may see him as trivial. I know that when he says the war was hard he isn’t lying because I can tell by his battle wounds that he had to have been in a nightmare.
Some people may think that Veterans who fought in smaller wars were not as important as those who fought in the wars that were on TV, or talked about all the time. It upsets me when people say this because I believe that no matter what war you were in, big or small, you did your part in keeping us free. Instead of judging we should be thankful for everything you have done. Without you, we might not even be here today. I also do not believe that it matters how you were fighting or what you were fighting in. Soldiers who fought on land did their part, as well as those in the skies helping from above, and those on or in the water who also gave their assistance. Each type of soldier fought their hardest to show the enemy what it means to be an American.
Veterans’ have had to experience things that I could not even imagine, horrible things that could change a person completely, both inside and out. While I was safe at home worrying about my petty problems, they were fighting to keep my family and all other families in the United States free.
I am forever grateful for everything that they have done. They are the reason that I can make my own decisions and be my own person. Veterans’ do not get enough recognition for all of their hard work in protecting this county. They deserve every bit of gratitude and then some. So thank you Veterans’, thank you so much for your loyalty and I hope someday that I may be able to be as honorable and as dignified as you are.
