Essay 2nd place winner at the South Dakota State level for 7th/8th grade division When I think of America, the Beautiful, I think of freedom. I think of our ancestors who fought for our rights as American citizens. I think of our currently deployed soldiers who are still fighting. From the beginning, America has been united. People have given their lives for our freedom, not because they knew who we were or what we would do with this freedom but because they loved their country.

I cannot explain how proud I am to call America my home. Where even in the worst of times, we have come together and held our heads high and worked through it. Our ancestors gave us hope. They chose to fight for our rights rather than just sitting back comfortably. They built our nation on bravery and trust. I grew up in the land of the free and the home of the brave because of our military and Veterans. I had the privilege of growing up in a place where no matter what your religion or political beliefs you are still treated as human. Where no matter your gender or sexual identity, you can freely roam the streets with dignity.

My grandpa fought for our rights in Vietnam and eventually gave his life due to a chemical used in Vietnam. Even though he was dying because of this he said he did not regret anything. He said that even though he was one person, the reward of seeing his grandchildren grow up in a free and safe nation was enough reward, and that if he had to give up his life to give all of us freedom he would do it again and again. I think that he is proof of our people’s dedication to our country.

Not only did they fight for our freedom years ago, but they continue to fight for our freedom. The fight to keep our rights safe. I am inspired by our former and current Veterans. I aspire to be more like them, to be brave and strong, to be dedicated and resilient, and to have just as much pride in my country as to give up my life fighting for it. America the Beautiful is much more than just a saying, much more than a song. It is a tribute to everyone who has fought for this country that I proudly call home.

Hannah won first place in the 9th/10th division at the South Dakota state level.

You’veprobablyheardthesong,“American the Beautiful”, but what you probably did not know is that some consider it to be our unofficial national anthem. I think this is a great fit because the song hits notes of freedom, the beautyof ourcountry,andourVeterans.Each verse revies something astonishing about our nation. “America the Beautiful”, the song we have all sung is a great example of the core values of our country and military.

“America the Beautiful” talks about the beauty of our country. WE would not have this beautiful country without the sacrifices and services of our soldiers. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties, above the fruitful plain…” These are some of the items stated in the song that describe the beauty that is our country. We would not have everything stated in this verse of the song without the men and women that offered up their lives to protect it. We have a very outstanding country, and we need to take care of it like the soldiers and Veterans of the past.

“Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life…” To me this verse means that the beauty of our country cannot just be seen by eyes but felt by the heart though the love people have throughout our country. Our Veterans cared more about freedom, mercy and the love people have throughout our country. Our Veterans cared more about freedom, mercy and the love they have for us than their own lives.

When the song talks about freedom, liberty, and brotherhood it aligns with the core values that our soldiers defend. In the second paragraph it talks about how the people of the past made America a path to freedom where liberty is actively pursued and celebrated. It talks about liberating strife which means that if you want freedom, you must be willing to fight and die for it. Our military of the past fought for our freedom with future generations in mind. Lastly, it talks about brotherhood and how we should always try to maintain a sense of brotherhood in our nation. The core values of our nation can be reminded to use while listening to “America the Beautiful”.

“American the Beautiful” is an amazing song for people of all ages. When you listen to it, it is a good reminder of how lucky we are to live in the United States of America. It reminds us of the beauty of society and nature that we can sometimes forget about. Our Veterans are the interior of our country, as are our core values of freedom, liberty and brotherhood. Our country is so beautiful and I want to thank our Veterans for being the reason we can dwell here in this marvelous land.