Voice of Democracy – a project of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; a competition for high schools on patriotism and civics. As a reminder, the ‘Grok met up with these students from Fellowship Christian Fellowship at Ovide Lamontagne’s "Return to Red" event in Manchester last week. During our live interview, it came out that they were all participating in the project and they agreed to share their work with us all.
This paper is from Grace; previous submissions: Peter, Maggie, Laura, & Kathryn.
On September 8, 1776, a man named Nathan Hale volunteered to spy on the British troops for George Washington during a British takeover in New York City. Disguising himself as a Dutch schoolteacher, he had almost made it across the British lines when he was discovered. At the time, hanging was the punishment for spying, so on September 22, 1776, at his execution, he told the British, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Hale was only twenty-one years old.
Does my generation have a role in America’s future? Some people may argue that we don’t, because all the “big” people in our government are much older and wiser than we are. The President must be at least thirty-five, not a young teenager. What could young people do to help America’s future?
Our generation can do many things to drastically change the path America takes. Whether it’s becoming…
… a firefighter or policeman or EMT to save people’s lives, or just voicing out our opinions for the better of our country, our young people can help. If none of our generation did these things to help other people, there would be no hope in America’s future.
A friend of mine went to boot camp to train for the army at only eighteen. Now, at nineteen, he’s sacrificing his time in college to prepare for fighting for our country. That’s a big sacrifice. Is he playing a part for America? Instead of having fun with friends and working to get an education, he’s doing what most people wouldn’t, and that’s service: training hard, every day, sacrificing his time, and being away from home all for the benefit of his country. He’s not the President, running the country and playing a major role in its future. He’s not a well-known star. He is just an ordinary young man of my generation willing to sacrifice his life for this country and its future.
Nathan Hale was only twenty-one when he willingly sacrificed his life to help his country. Spying on the British troop movements wasn’t something he did to help himself; he did it for his President and his country. This young man cared for his country and stepped up to fight for it. He played a big role in the fight for America’s future and independence. If he could do it, then so could our generation today.
Many of our generation might aspire to be famous or rich. We might have big ambitions for ourselves, goals set high to reach, but our goals should not be focused on ourselves, but on the well-being and safety of other people around us. We can stand up to decisions made that are wrong, or to things that would hurt our country. If we feel strongly against a law that is or will be passed, we can make a difference by voicing our concern. Some of us might not be old enough to vote, but we all have the power to persuade the minds of our people towards the right path. Without our generation being involved, America’s future could end in disaster.
Like the friend of mine, we could be involved in fighting for our country and our freedom. There were and are so many young men and women that took it upon themselves to fight in different countries, all with the same purpose, for their people. There are so many people of my generation out there, fighting not only for their own generation, but also for the generations to come. Our future Americans have a hope and assurance for their well-being because of all the soldiers that were and are fighting for their freedom.
Without a doubt my generation has a big role in America’s future. By working to save people’s lives, standing up for our country, or by doing what so many veterans have done and fighting for America’s safety and future, our country will have a future to rely upon. We can do what it takes to stand up for America and in the end, say, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
