Thierolf, Ash named top writers in Patriot s Pen contest
Winners of the Patriot's Pen competition were announced Friday by Ecker-Fulkerson-Slifer VFW Post #6958, Marion.
Marion seven and eighth grade students entered essays with the theme of "Who are today's patriots?"
First-place winners were Connor Thierolf, seventh grade, son of Grant and Deanna Thierolf; and Parker Ash, eighth grade, son of Tom and Pat Ash.
Second place winners were seventh grader Matt Sprowls, son of Chris Sprowls and Lori Sprowls; and eighth grader Louis Holt, son of Terry and Ann Holt.
Following are the first-place essays.
Today's Patriots
Today patriots are not just the football players from New England. Today's patriots are people like Colin Powell, our fighting troops today, and Pat Tillman. This essay will tell you about these three patriots.
Our first patriot is Colin Powell. Colin Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years and was involved in two wars, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. Colin Powell moved from a second lieutenant to a four-star general during his career. He was awarded 26 medals including a purple heart. During his second tour of duty in Vietnam, Powell was decorated for his bravery. He single-handedly rescued several men from a burning helicopter. After returning from the war, he became involved in politics. Colin Powell served as the first African-American Secretary of State.
Our second patriot of today would include all of our soldiers who are fighting for freedom and the war against terrorism. They have been fighting for five years in Afghanistan, searching for Osama Bin Laden. Fighting a war in Iraq for the past three years, again our soldiers are dying from ambushes, car bombs, and RPGs. Soldiers are sacrificing their lives so that we can live in this country in freedom.
I've saved the best for last of the greatest patriots ever, Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman went to college at Arizona State University where as a linebacker for the Sun Devils he won the Pac-10 defensive player of the year award in 1997. In 1998, he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and started 10 out of 16 games during his rookie year. After the tragedy in New York on September 11, 2001, Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract and decided to join the Army with his brother Kevin. Tillman joined the Army because of his love for his country and his desire to serve the United States. After his basic training, Tillman was sent to Afghanistan to start his Army career. On April 22, 2004, he lost his life while on duty for his country.
In America today people say that it is hard to find heroes. Colin Powell, Pat Tillman, and America's soldiers, past and present, are all real life American heroes. American heroes are not hard to find if you know where to look for them.
— Connor Thierolf
Who Are Today's Patriots?
The definition of a patriot according to Merriam Webster is "one who loves his country and zealously supports its authority and interests." Some people who come to mind when I think of what a patriot is are some of our founding fathers such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, author of the "Declaration of Independence." All those who fought in cold lonely wars and those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom and for the rights of all Americans were patriots. Those who fought against racial injustices and for freedom of religion were patriots. The portion of the Declaration of Independence that we are most familiar with states "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Those who fought to uphold these rights were patriots.
Today's patriots range all the way from the President of the United States to those who are moved to tears when they hear the Star Spangled Banner, or stand and cheer when they see the flag being marched proudly through a Fourth of July parade. They are the firefighters and police and all who helped rescue the Hurricane Katrina victims, they are the people who sent money and supplies to help these people and they are the people who are there right now helping clean up the mess left behind. Today's patriots are those people who bravely responded to help rescue the victims of the terror attacks on 9/11, many giving their lives doing so. Today's patriots are those who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in the wars against terrorism. Today's patriots are school teachers, community leaders and parents — all who are teaching my generation what love for our country means both in the classroom and by example; in community service projects that show us how to be proud of and care for this great country and the people of this great land that we live in.
Today's patriots are you and I, when we make choices to respect the laws of our country, when we reach out to help others in need, when we show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance, when we value the freedoms that we have, and appreciate all who made these freedoms possible today.
— Parker Ash
