Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
For many years the local Craig Valley VFW Post 4491 has encouraged students of Craig County middle and high schools to participate in their Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen writing contests.
Several have submitted their papers and each year the VFW gives a gift card to the winners. Their work is also submitted to the next level of competition.
Some have won higher levels.
This year, the Patriot’s Pen winner was Natalie Fisher who answered the VFW question, “How are you inspired by America?”
Fisher wrote: America has inspired me to be myself since I was a child. There are three major factors that have made a massive difference to me, varying from the flag to the people itself!
The first enormous factor is that our flag is extraordinary from others. The colors meanings vary from red demonstrating courage and bravery to white meaning purity and innocence, to the blue representing justice. Our flag is extraordinary because many Americans have fought to protect the land and sacrificed their lives to keep our flag up, preserving our freedoms.
The Flag is a reminder of our safety and protection of the amendments. The American flag shows me that you have to stand out from the crowd and be extraordinary just like it!
The next major factor is that we have the freedom of speech to let us speak our minds without the fear of persecution or being punished for having our own beliefs and opinions. Which also lets us worship and believe in what we would like to believe in, helping me to form my own opinions.
The last factor that has inspired me is the people of America and how they have helped me grow into the person I am supposed to be. America’s people are caring, kind, and will always lend a helping hand to those in need. They are there for those who can’t take care of themselves or are just in need of assistance.
The people of America has inspired me to help those in need because if I am ever in that situation I would like someone else to help me too!
For the veterans that have fought to give us these rights are still serving their communities, they inspire me to make an impact in my community because if they can, so can I!
These points have inspired me and have made a huge impact on my life. Which helps shape, form, and helps develop me to be who I am today.
Fisher added, “Writing the Patriots Pen is special to me because I get to show our Veterans exactly how special it is. Letting me show appreciation and enabling me to express my gratitude for them and also it gets me more experience with writing papers which means very much to me.”
