Essay Contest-Cash

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First Place Runner-Up in the Middle School Division winning a $500 US Savings Bond was….

Austin Cash!

CONGRATULATIONS AUSTIN!

Read Austin’s prize winning essay below…

Watch the You Tube video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BASnoC1axUY

The enemy is approaching, should we fire general. No fire when you see the white of their eyes. There almost here…FIRE!!! This is a very famous line from an old war. Memorial Day is celebrated in honor of the Americans who died in a war. Memorial Day means a lot to me because I had a relative who died in this war. It is an important day for war veterans so they can remember friends that fought beside them that died in a war. I feel lucky to live in America, I think of the people who died in the war and I think of my Uncle Mitos and Grandpa Shaver.

To begin, as Mr. McManus said we should feel lucky to live in America (Mr. McManus). America is free unlike many other countries. I feel lucky I don’t live in Libya or China where people aren’t free. People don’t realize how lucky they are. America is a country that many other countries look up to. We are above other countries and that makes us special. America is the best country because you can own your own business and say anything you want. America is a place where every person wants to live.

Furthermore, on Memorial Day I think of all the people who died in the war. In WWII, when an American died their family would get an American flag. My family knows how it felt when a relative died in war. Some of my relatives died in the war. Memorial Day is the best holiday. People have cookouts and parties to remember all the people who died in different wars.

At this point, I want to talk about two of my relatives who were in WWII. My Uncle Mitos went to a remote island in WWII. The island turned out to be Japan’s territory. They killed my uncle and all the Americans who went to this island. When this happened my family got an American flag from the military. He was cremated along with all of the other Americans that were killed on this island. The ashes were sent back to America and are now in the graveyard. He earned a purple star for his bravery. I never got to see my uncle and it’s because of WWII. MY Grandpa Shaver was also in WWII but he didn’t die in WWII. He was in the Navy and was a great man. He died of old age in 2006. These stories are why we celebrate Memorial Day.

As stated above, the way I think of Memorial Day is I feel very blessed to live in America, I remember all the people who died in war, and I remember my relatives that were in a war. Memorial Day is a very important day. You remember people who died in a war. We can also remember all of the Jews and other races that died. Here is a quote from Winston Churchill, Today we may say aloud before an awe-struck world: We are still masters of our fate. We are still captain of our souls.”

-Austin Cash