Pictured with Randy Kessler of the American Legion are the three winners of the flag essay contest. From left are Jose Lizarde (3rd place), Josiah Kurian (second place) and Anessa Morrison (first place).
Three fifth graders from Lenihan Intermediate School were given awards for their flag essays and recited their essays at the American Legion on March 7. Winning first place in the American Legion contest was Anessa Morrison, second place was Josiah Kurian and third place was Jose Lizarde.
These students participate in the writer’s workshop program at Lenihan as part of the Extended Learning program, led by teacher Vanessa Engel.
Below are their essays.
The American Flag Means to Me
By:Anessa Morrison – First Place
Red, white, and blue inside one flag, it seems like just some colors mixed together to some people. I see what our country has fought for, how every step in a war was a step towards freedom. So many people lost their lives and loved ones. Everyone knew once you went to war, it was likely you would never come back. We were and still are more than lucky to have people who are willing to give up their lives to fight and give this country freedom.
During wars our nation went through a lot of hardships, we had to look at the flag and gain strength because war was brutal in most cases. One thing it did was bring this country together and we realized our country is a lot stronger when we unite as one.
The American flag symbolizes how much our country believes in having freedom and being independant. I love the American flag because every single time I look at it I feel a sense of pride and freedom. Every single time I take into account that a lot of people have put their lives on the line to let us be free.
On holidays I volunteer to hang flags in our town because it reminds me that so many people honor our veterans and our freedom. Our flag is not just a flag, it is a symbol that represents freedom, liberty, and neutrality. The flag has had a significance in the past and will continue to have one in the future.
My Flag Essay
By Josiah Kurian – Second Place
What does the American Flag mean to you?
Well when I think of the American flag I think of the fifty states and the thirteen colonies which is what the fifty stars and thirteen stripes on the flag represent.
Another thing the American flag reminds me of is freedom, because America is a free country which means you have the rights to believe anything you want to. It reminds me of peace because there isn’t much conflict and war in America.
I think the American flag means justice. I think this because America is always just and has good leaders. Another reason I think U.S Flag means justice is when other countries attempt to attack us usually we don’t let them. America is a fair country because they have fair rules and is fair to everyone. I also think it means helping others because, American Forces have helped various countries in different wars. The American Flag reminds me of tragic events that took place in America.
Some of these tragic events would be, The attacks on September 11, or, The Civil War. The U.S flag reminds me of wealth because America is a wealthy country and there isn’t a lot of people without homes or people dying from sickness there is no cure for unlike other countries. The American flag reminds me of the army that fights for our freedom. Another thing it reminds me of is slavery and segregation in America and how we treated african americans. The american flag also reminds me of World War l and World War ll. It reminds me of this because America fought and fought in both wars to stop Germany and Japan.
What The Flag Means To Me
By: Jose Lizarde- Third Place
What does The Flag mean to me. Well one is pride. I have pride for this country. I have it in so many ways that I could spend quite some time speaking about my pride to this country. There’s just three things that just gives me the most. Pride, honor, and courage. The flag has a couple of meanings in my opinion. In the way that I think of it.
The Flag represents our country. Betsy Ross was the person to design and sew the flag. It also gives hope to people. In war people would hang it up proudly and to find hope. It’s a symbol to all of us, it’s a symbol in a good way or in other ways.
Back to what I’m here to talk about. My pride to The Flag. When I’m around The Flag it gives me confidence. The many people that are by The Flag feel like that but not in the way that I feel. It’s hard to explain so I’ll try to do my best.
The Flag means to me one honor, well people give their life to the country they get little honor but they still get honor from the flag. There are people like me who get honor from the flag even if I people don’t think that way and people think it’s weird but I don’t think like that. Another thing that gives me honor are the people who fought for the flag and its meaning of freedom.
Now for the courage part. The courage it gives to not just me but to everyone in the country as a symbol of freedom like nothing there has ever been. So that is what I think of the flag in the most truthful way.
