Honorable Mention
Freedom One
By James Divens
Freedom is the most important thing in life and we must protect and preserve it as much as possible. Freedom is the ability to make your own decisions, have your own beliefs and values and pursue your own dreams in life. Freedom also gives you the power to act, speak without being interfered with unjustly while respecting the beliefs, views, customs and values in life of others and the law.
Freedom is like a fragile glass because everyone needs to keep a firm hold so it won’t slip away, fall and break. When that happens it might be hard to find all those pieces and put it back together again, will I be just as strong?
We as a nation must stand firm to protect and oppose any government or nation that wants to destroy what all of our men and women sacrifice their lives for so heroically. Veterans as well as civilians understand that freedom doesn’t come easy, but still are willing to pay the price. Those of us who worn the uniform understands the struggles and sacrifices that is required and also comes with great responsibilities. Many of us Veterans went through some very harsh and difficult times. Being away from you loved ones, relatives, friends, missing out on graduations or the birth of a new child was bad enough, but also being out in the cold, wet, snow, mud or heat even made matters worse.
Without freedom where would this nation be to allow you to choose your destiny in life? No matter what, as an American citizen and a Veteran, it is my obligation to protect the freedoms we have today that so many men and women fought for before us. Many knew they might not return to their love ones and now some are suffering from physical and mental injuries for the rest of their lives. The question is what are you willing to do to protect your freedoms? In the United States of America you can be whatever you want to be with the only limitations is yourself, your beliefs, and the actions you take to make those dreams come true. Freedom is a beautiful thing and something I am proud of and I hope you are too!
