My first taste of “American Pride” was when I was 12, at the grocery store with my mom. We went to the food court for dinner, and noticed an elderly man with a WWII veterans cap on. We approached him and introduced ourselves, and as I shook his hand, my heart swelled with pride. I was proud of my country. I was proud of the man whose strong hand was wrapped around mine. I was proud of the men and women who represented America by joining the armed forces. I’ll never lose this pride. I will always be a patriot, a lover of the red, white, and blue, and an admirer of our veterans. Our national anthem calls America the land of the free and the home of the brave, but America can only be free if she is brave. Economics tell us that nothing is free. …show more content…
Throughout history, in wars like Vietnam, World War II, Afghanistan, and Iraq, our love for freedom has been tested. Enemies of liberty have sought to snuff out the light. However, proud representatives of America have ventured through jungles where armed enemies lurked in the unknown ready to strike and disappear. They have charged onto beaches under heavy machine gun and artillery fire where they knew they probably wouldn’t make it out alive. They have colored the ocean red with their blood — shed for the liberty of people they will never meet. Thanks to them, my family can go to church on Sunday. Thanks to our veterans, I have no fear of being caught praying. Thanks to our veterans, I can say what I want, when I want, and where I want; thanks to our veterans, I am free. Veterans used to get the attention they deserve. When a man returned home from fighting on the front lines, his family and friends would throw a welcoming celebration, he was thanked many times, and his face might even appear in the newspaper. Now it seems that though we have a national holiday for them, veterans aren’t appreciated, respected,