Tulsa Post 577 Voice of Democracy Winner for 2009-2010
Catherine C. L. Clark, Senior at Jenks High School, she also was chosen one the top ten vocalist in the State of Oklahoma. She plans to study music at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. The following is her speech that won the Post award.
 

Does America Still Have Heroes?

What is a hero? I found myself asking this question, thinking of hundreds of answers and trying to make one fit. A long list of people began forming in my head from Superman to Odysseus, to the firemen who gave their lives in 9/11, and then to my mom- each one uniquely a hero. What is America? Is it a country, a set of boundaries, a form of government, or a flag? As I’ve gotten older, I started discovering America is a surprising place in me. America is people, the ones I love, a people of all different colors, shapes, accents, and backgrounds. When I was three, a hero was anyone who would squash a spider. Now I see heroes in the people around me, the positive influences that are standing up to the rising iniquity in the world. America’s heroes are the heroes in my life, the people that made the essence of who I am, who changed my life without even knowing it.
My cousin is currently in Hawaii. No, he’s not there on vacation, he is stationed there. My cousin is a Marine. Could you hear the pride in that statement? He has been to Iraq, survived, may go back again, and I couldn’t be prouder. Marine. That’s not a title many people can call themselves. He sacrifices his life every day for the small freedoms that we take for granted. My cousin is a hero. My 11th grade English teacher is one of the best people I know. She truly cares about her students and about her job. She is the one teacher I know that has a passion for teaching. She taught me so much more than English, she encouraged me to go after my dreams and actually make something of myself. She showed me that it’s alright to be different, to stand out, and she gave me confidence in who I was. This woman is a hero. My mother, a fourth grade teacher, who works two jobs and still manages to make me dinner, is a hero.
Does America still have heroes? I ask you, how can America not have heroes? Without these people, I would not be me, you would not be you, and this country would not shout freedom and equality from the hearts of its citizens. America would ultimately be a place not a home, a country not people. Without these leaders, America would be lost among the nations of the world.
Next year, I’m turning eighteen. A big step- I will be a legal adult. It is my belief that you aren’t born a hero, but you choose to be one. I can only hope that I will be the difference in the future, that my compassion, my decisions, my efforts will inspire someone to be their best and to chase after their dreams. I pray that I will become someone’s hero. Yes, America still has heroes, and I am deciding to be the hero of tomorrow sot that statement rings true throughout the ages.


Tulsa V.F.W. Post 577 2009-2010 Patriot Pen Winner
Kodie Washinton, 6th Grade at St. Augustine Academy
The following is her Essay.

WHEN TO HONOR MILITARY HERO’S

Military heroes can be honored through patriotic holidays, active service, and special ceremonies. It is truly honoring for a Military Hero to know that he is being cared for.
First there are many holidays, but there are three that stood out to me when honoring military heroes. On the Fourth of July, we usually honor Military heroes by participating in picnics, shooting fireworks, and by remembering our freedom. Without them fighting for our freedom, we would be in a lot more danger. Another great holiday is Veterans Day there are floats with people throwing stuff like prizes to the crowd, but we need to remember that people died for us and for our freedom. That is the true purpose of Veterans Day.
The next time to honor military heroes is when they are actively serving us> Without them we would not be here. So when they are fighting in the cold, hard rain, and we are in our cozy, warm, soft bed, we should think of them and thank them for everything they have done. We could also send them something like cookies or a nice card, which would be nice.
Last of all, we can thank them through special ceremonies. We could go to a funeral of a veteran and at least pray for the family. Another way to honor the military heroes is to remember them on Memorial Day. On Memorial Day it’s nice to go to a cemetery that fly’s the flags of our courageous Veterans, and hopefully our heroes. If they have served us, give them a hug and words of thanks. Last of all they can be honored with awards. Everyone appreciates getting awards. If someone was willing to risk their lives and do something extreme, they should be honored. Military heroes can be honored in many ways, but honoring them in patriotic holidays, active services, and ceremonies stood out to me.