Jessica Madrid: "How Our Freedoms Influence My Life"
I remember when I was 9 years old I attended a Knights of Columbus conference with my parents. My Father at the time was the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. The night of the Grand Dinner, the speaker was a veteran who had survived Pearl Harbor. This man was actually standing on the dock when Pearl Harbor was bombed. His speech that night was not on the horrors of the bombing or any of its aftermath, his speech was on how disappointed he was on the youth of today. He spoke on how so few of America's youth go to private schools, how so few of them go to church, and how so few of them actually believe in God. This great veteran also spoke of his disappointment on how so many of America's youth do not appreciate veterans and the sacrifices veterans have made for them, how so many of them do not appreciate the freedoms of today, and how so many of them lack patriotism.
I remember listening to him and the disappointment in his voice. He seemed so sad almost defeated. I remember thinking that this was all so unfair. He had fought so hard and had sacrificed so much. I remember leaning over to my Mother and saying to her "You know Mom, I don't feel that way." My Mother stated to me, "Well, maybe he needs to hear that from you." After he had spoken I waited for what seemed like e forever. There were so many people shaking his hand and thanking him for his speech, his accomplishments and for his bravery.
Then it was my turn...
I remember looking up at this man and thinking that I was actually going to speak to a real Hero. I remember looking up at him and saying, “Sir, I want you to know something. I attend a private Catholic school, I go to church and believe in God, and when I graduate from high school, I am going to go into the Military because I want to serve my Country." This man, this veteran, this hero just looked at me and then he began to cry. He then wrapped his arms around me and gave me a great big bear hug. He then held me by the shoulders and stated to me and to everyone else in the conference room, "This - this little girl has just restored my faith in our youth of today." He then looked into my eyes and said "Thank you.” I remember that he also looked at my parents and said thank you to them as well. I was crying, my parents were crying, and a great many people who witnessed this event were misty-eyed as well. It was a moment filled with a lot of emotion, a moment filled with "happy tears".
It was this night that influenced my life for the rest of my life. I have never forgotten the words that I spoke to this great veteran, a man who had sacrificed so much for America's freedom. I strive to live up to the commitment I spoke of on that great night. I am now a freshman attending high school and I have just completed my first year in JROTC. I have been promoted to Staff Sergeant. At the 2005 Military Ball/Military Honors Banquet, I received the high school Cadet of the Year and the Silver Medal from the American Legion. I have also lettered in my high school for my participation in community events through JROTC. Easter of 2005 I was one of many students who traveled 16 hours to the Fort Sills Army Boot Camp in Oklahoma. This one-week experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Freedom is not a word; it is a journey from the past throughout the future. Freedom, just like faith, is dead without action. There are many speaking the words, but not many living them. I choose to serve my God, my church, my school, my community, and my country. But I also choose to let those who have served our great nation know that I appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for me and for our future. I say thank you to our courageous veterans. I shake their hands. I place flags on their headstones at our local cemeteries. I choose to defend what has previously been fought for, that WHICH IS RIGHT. I choose to fight against those who try to destroy the freedoms and rights of others, that WHICH IS WRONG.
Freedom...
Freedom to me is living it, not saying it. Freedom to me is choosing right from wrong. Freedom to me is a right and a privilege and it must be respected. Freedom to me is not about land, money, or fame; it is about honor and the grace to live it.
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