Levi recently penned the following essay for a contest and won second place. What is wonderful is that he's the most patriotic person I know. Enjoy!Does Patriotism Still Matter?
These past few days I have really began to realize how much patriotism matters. If it weren't for some patriotic, ordinary men who wanted their own country with their own elected government, we wouldn't be living in the United States of America right now. In every war we have had patriots risk and sometimes lose their lives to protect us. But that's not enough. They need to have patriots here, in their homeland, because if there aren't any patriots here, how can our soldiers fight for us? How can they protect something that doesn't care about them, about their lives, about the quality of their families' lives? The people who would burn the flag our soldiers fight for just to make a point.
Patriots are the ones keeping this country together. They do little things like telling a child to take his hat off and put his hand over his heart when saying the Pledge of Allegiance or when hearing the National Anthem. They speak out when politicians want to violate our amendments. They show people what their rights mean and how they can exercise them. They send the troops care packages and show them that maybe they aren't throwing their lives away meaninglessly, that they are fighting for a good cause for people who are grateful. Do you realize the pain the troops endure? They have watched brothers die in agony, but they keep fighting and sometimes dying. But when they die, they die with their boots on and hopefully knowing that they won't be booed as they are carried out of that airplane.
Yes! Patriotism does matter! In fact, I think we have the obligation of respecting Old Glory, flying high in the sky, watching over us and protecting us. We have the responsibility to support the troops fighting for us. If we don't, who will?
Well done, Levi!
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