Veterans Day

By: Alyssa Neal

What does it mean to be an American?
"Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
-President Kennedy.

"All gave some, some gave all."
-Anonymous.

What does it mean to be an American, is the question. Well, to be an American to me means that I am free. That when I grow up I can pick the job I want, what shift to work, and to have a good education. It means that I can say "The Pledge of Allegiance" and that I can vote for the President. (Once I get older.) Being an American is about being free and loyal. It's about having freedom of religion, rights, and justice. Being an American means that we are all treated equally no matter what color skin you have, and it doesn't matter what culture you are from. An American is someone who deserved freedom, and shouldn't take that freedom for granted. And that is what it means to be an American to me.

We shouldn't take these wonderful opportunities for granted, because all of these great choices did not come with just a simple snap of the fingers. People actually had to fight for all of our freedom, and sacrifice there lives for us! Those people that fight for our freedom are called Veterans. And guess what? There is a day celebrated just for them, 11/11 (November 11th) every single year. That is the day that you are supposed to be thankful for every single thing you have, and remember what it truly means to be a free American.

Veteran-
A man or women who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. A veteran, is a risk-taker. Someone who cares more about others than themselves. A man or woman who would rather die, just so that everyone around him or her can have freedom, because EVERY SINGLE PERSON DESERVES FREEDOM. Veterans have done a lot for our country, and we shouldn't take that for granted.

    Everything we have now, other countries probably do not have. So, on Veterans Day everyone needs to take a moment, just a moment to think just how lucky we are to have freedom, and how we shouldn't just think everything will be handed to us. We need to know that not every little good thing will come in a gift bag, or present. Because the best gift of all, is knowing that people fight for us and won our freedom.