4 minute read
Patriot’s Pen
PATRIOTIC SALUTE
HOW CAN I BE A GOOD AMERICAN?
By Regina Stoeser, 2021 Harrisburg South Middle School // 2021 VFW PATRIOT’S PEN WINNER
To be a good American, I believe you must first take a step back and look at the roots this country was originally founded upon. This country was built from the ground up with slabs of perseverance, individualism, and the undying desire for freedom. This new foundation was then packed with the rich soil of patriotism, and rays of death-defying love for this country. To be a good American, I believe you must understand the blood, sweat and tears that watered the seed of our great nation. I also believe that in order to be a good American, you simply need to be grateful for the gardeners who died watering this seed, and forever thank God for this great elm tree of a nation we call home.
In order to show your love for this country, don’t take your freedoms for granted. As you get dressed each day, be grateful for the freedom of choosing what you get to wear. As you sleep soundly under your roof each night, be grateful for the freedom of having such comforts. As you go to work or school each day, thank God you have the freedom to be a lifelong learner. Part of being a good American is understanding the freedoms blooming all around, and recognizing your gratitude for them. Respect your flag, thank
God for blessing the red white and blue. Stand tall for your national anthem, thank those who have died as you feel the pounding thu-thump of a beating heart beneath your hand. Speak freely, vote, educate yourself, but make sure you understand how much of an honor it is to do so.
America is without a doubt the greatest country in the world, and it’s important for Americans to understand how fortunate it is to be a part of it. The road to being a good American is all about understanding how lucky you are to be able to plant your own roots in this land of the free, and making sure to not take it for granted. To be a good American, I believe you need to understand the seeds it took to grow this nation’s mighty branches, and make sure to water them for future generations. With that said, long live the land of the free and home of the brave. God bless America. // Regina Stoeser
IRT-1948J-A IRT-1948J-A
Brock Aldrich Brock Aldrich
Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 225 N Cliff Avenue 5 225 N Cliff Avenue 5 Harrisburg, SD 57032 Harrisburg, SD 57032 605-777-1566 605-777-1566
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HERE’S THE SLANT
What does the fox say?
I don’t know. I forgot to ask him. He took me by complete surprise on Thursday night when he ran a quick diagonal through the grocery store parking lot. The fox seemed very put together. He looked well-groomed with a beautiful coat that was standing at attention in the breeze. Why does a fox get so dressed up?
Maybe it was his wedding day. I wondered if he changed his mind and was high-tailing it back to the timberland, seeking a safe place to relish his bachelorhood. Whatever the occasion, I was pleased as punch to mark one down for things I don’t see every day. From my point of view, I always find victory in things that take me by surprise.
Consider a recent camping trip. Thanks to a road-closed sign on Highway 46 near Irene, we took a detour on a blacktop to head south. A place called Wakonda appeared on the horizon not long after we turned. We slowed down to study the small town and just for fun, we decided to tour a place we had never been before by turning left on Slant Street. On the corner, where Slant meets Main, we found a tiny gas station and we went in to investigate. Our car was the only one in the parking lot but inside the place was abuzz. There was one cashier and a table of 6 in the back of the store playing pinochle on a mid-October Saturday afternoon. I was kind of curious and I wanted to ask the players if new members were welcome to join the card club. But I kept my mouth shut because the non-verbal cues were hard to miss. I could see that this was a VERY serious game of pinochle and strangers on a detour down Slant Street were of little to no significance to these pinochle players.
Where Slant Street ended, we were able to head south again. Up one hill and down another showed us some of the most beautiful fall foliage ever witnessed in the valley beyond a creekbank near Volin.
So, here’s the slant: Sometimes, even though you want to stop and play games, its not the right destination. Take your cue from the high-tailing fox. Keep running until you see what it is you didn’t know you were looking for.
Jane Klemme
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