Missourian readers tell what they love about America I

I am proud to be an American because it is the best country in the world. We have TVs, balls and fans. I like the flag because it is very colorful. There are very nice people all over the country.

We get apples, peaches and butter. We also get fresh water from rivers and lakes. I am glad that our country gets to vote for president. We have apple trees.

Chris Martin, 8

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because I am free and I have people who love me no matter what happens. I can go places without getting picked on or somebody beating me up. I can eat whatever I want. I can go wherever I want. I can say whatever I want. We can vote for our president. We have clean water. I have clean air. America has a lot of activities. America has places other countries don't have. We have Florida, St. Louis, California, Six Flags, Mall of America and Disney World. These are places everyone loves.

Ashayla Martin, 11

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because I have rights that other people in other countries don't. Like the Bill of Rights, not everybody has those rights. I'm also proud to be an American because I can get more opportunities in education than in other countries.

Being African-American, I think we've come a long way from slavery, to non-citizen, to becoming what I want. We stand united, that is why I'm proud to be an American. People die in other countries because they walk down the wrong street. Here you die for killing others. Being American is a privilege.

Martavius Davis, 15

Cape Girardeau

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Why I like to be an African-American is you have many different things to do. For example, you have freedom of speech. You can choose what school you want to go to, and last but not least it doesn't matter what race you are, you get to do what you want as long as you don't break the law.

Finally, why I like to live in America. I like to live in America because I'm free to do anything I want to do. We get to vote, but you have to be a certain age, and other countries can't do what we do in America. Also in America there are beautiful museums that other countries don't have. Some of the rights here are way different from other different places. Many people have more fun in America.

Simone Martin, 13

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because I have a freedom of speech. I'd rather be an American because I can choose my job. I like that we can vote. I like that I can choose what school I can go to. I like that I can choose what clothes I want to wear. I like how the government can't tell me what to do. I like that we can go to whatever place we want.

LoVonzo Martin, 10

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because it is a free country. I can go to a good school. I can play sports. I can live in a good house. I can get a good job. There is lots of good stuff to do in America.

LoRonzo Martin, 10

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because I have great friends and a great new friend and another great friend. I go to my granny's house, and I like to visit places. I like to come to the club, and I like to go to school. I am happy to live in America because it's got so much people I like. I like my home and I like going to McDonald's and the circus. America is so great because my Tete said that one day I'll get to see the president. It's better to live here than some place else because this place is so grateful and I love God, and I love all the families. I like the parks, and I love everyone, and I like to meet everyone. That's why I like to be American!

P.J. Buck, 4

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because I speak English. I do not write or talk Italian. We have parks in America. I like to play here. I like to visit my grandma in Charleston and my aunt in Nashville. I like trees. We have lots of kinds of trees here in America. We can play Frisbee here, too.

We have good firefighters. We also have good jobs. We have jobs that you get paid a million dollars for. We get to pick the jobs that we want to do. I want to be a doctor when I grow up. I might be a nurse first. I will take classes and learn stuff. That's all I want to do. America lets me pick what I want to do.

Jerry Buck, 8

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because you get to be free and you get to pick what school you want to go to. And you get to pick what kinds of clothes you want to wear. And you don't have to be bossed around. You can visit wherever you want to. I can eat a lot of hamburgers, and hamburgers are my favorite kind of food. When I grow up, I want to be an artist. My favorite holiday is Independence Day, because I love the firecrackers and fireworks.

I like to visit my cousins that live in Sikeston, Missouri. There is a really, really, really big park with lots of trees that have lots of shade. Trees surround the whole park. It's different from other places because there really isn't trash there on the ground because people clean up their own mess before they leave the park. Some people in other places do not clean up their messes.

That's why I am proud to be an American.

Patrick Drummond, 8

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because we don't have to be bossed around. You get to pick what school you can go to and you get to pick the kind of clothes you wear. You get to pick what college you can go to. You also can do lots of homework in college that will make you smart. I want to be a scientist when I grow up.

I am glad I was born in America, too. I have good parents. I like that America makes lots of kinds of juice. America also makes yummy foods like steak. We also have computers here in America. I am glad that we have bikes to play on, too.

You can take a visit to California. You can visit your friends and have sleepovers. You can also get a giant house if you want to.

Jordan Drummond, 7

Cape Girardeau

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I am proud to be an American because Americans are special. They keep us healthy and teach us not to do drugs. I am also proud to be an American because Americans don't have to ask the president if we can move. We get to visit places like Kansas City and St. Louis.

Americans can speak English and people can understand what you are saying. Some Americans are twins and some are not. Some Americans are good and some are bad. I also like to be an American because Americans have friends and families. Families care, trust and love.

Americans get to be free. They also get to fight for our rights and play whenever they want to play. I am also proud to be an American because you get to play with whoever you want to play with. You also get to walk where you want to walk. We get to read any book we want to read. We also get to wear what we want to wear. You can write whatever you feel like writing.

Kasey Evans, 9

Cape Girardeau

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This is a tough one! My patriotic feelings are so deeply ingrained that I have a problem putting words to them. First of all, my parents were intensely patriotic. There was never a time in my life when I wasn't encouraged to be patriotic. I must have 20 or more of those patriotic or flag shirts. I honestly can't remember a time when I wasn't patriotic. We went to an airshow in St. Louis around July 4th a few years ago and saw an air show put on by McDonnell-Douglas. I cried. No one else did, but I did.

I am one of those chest thumping flag wavers. I am almost a joke among my pals. My dad served in World War II, and I guess he was the inspiration for my feelings. I can't even begin to nail down why I feel the way I do, but I'm here to tell you, these feelings are almost as strong as the feelings I feel when I think about my love for my children or my husband.

There is no question that I would die for my country. I love America! Thank you so much, God, for allowing me to live here.

Jodi Thompson

Jackson

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I love America because, very simply, the freedom. Not only the freedoms we always hear touted at press conferences and Senate or House hearings, but the freedoms we overlook on a daily basis.

As I write this, my cousin, an airman, is sitting in a makeshift office in the middle of Russia. He's only been home for 8 weeks in the past year, yet when we speak he's positive about where he's at and for what purpose. He knows, as do I, that freedom is not a given. A price has to be paid for that. So while he has been in Russia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Oman, Iraq and various other countries over the past several years -- sometimes in horrible conditions -- I have been here enjoying the smallest but most wonderful things that America has to offer.

I can live anywhere I choose, I can work wherever I choose and also choose where my paycheck is spent. I can drive a car and can choose what kind of car I want to drive. I can choose my clothes and I don't have to stand in a line a mile long for toilet paper. I am a single mother of a daughter and I can go to sleep at night with the confidence that neither my daughter nor I will ever be persecuted because we are women.

Male, female, young and old, we all have so many reasons big and small to be thankful that we live in such a wonderful country.

Angel Geurin

Atlanta

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A ... A love of this nation and its people, free to move about, receive an education, seek a job of their choice and have peace within their homes and borders without the threat of injustice or invasion by hostile forces.

M ... Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters who have pride in their country, who are volunteers in the combined services, are willing todefend and protect America so the rest of us can live in peaceful harmony, subjecting themselves to unnatural forces and hardships, all in the name of America.

E ... Ever proud and enduring under the red, white and blue.

R ... Rights are guaranteed under the Constitution to serve and protect all Americans.

I ... Intensely mindful of those less fortunate peoples around the world, living in oppression, and willing to come to their aid with heart, soul and their lives.

C ... Challenger of all people to do their best, supporter of one and all who have come to our shores with hopes of a better forever. Guardian to justice, peace, freedom of worship and harmony.

A ... Admittedly the best nationon all of God's earth with freedom and justice for all.

Carol Messmer

Benton

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I am so thankful to live in a land which was founded on Christian principals by God-fearing men who understood that we are all created equal and should all have equal opportunities to develop our talents and dreams. We are so blessed to have the freedom to choose where and how to live. Unlike in many other countries, we also have the resources to get the things we need, and many of the things we want, with little concern. Many people say that America is morally corrupt, and continually getting worse, and I would have to agree. However, I still believe that we live in the greatest nation on this earth, and, if we will go back to our founding principals, that God will restore America to the place where we can once again truly say that we are "one nation under God!"

Jennifer Hall

Blodgett

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I am proud to be a true American citizen, as my father as a young man came to America with all of his belongings from Copenhagen, Denmark. We heard often from his folks in Denmark. He was a musician who played the violin. He died and was buried in Scott City, as was his beloved wife.

Fanny Kjer

Cape Girardeau

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Why do I love America? Because of our freedoms we all have guaranteed by our Constitution of the United States of America. How wise our forefathers were to have written this document over 200 years ago.

I love the oceans bordering our country and the Great Lakes. You look and can never see the end. It's awesome.

Our country welcomes immigrants today as in the yesteryears. Guidance is given for immigrants to become American citizens to fulfill their dreams. I have witnessed a naturalization service, and to see the tears and smiles of these folks is inspiring.

Without a doubt, freedom to worship is great. I have friends of all faiths professing their allegiance to one God.

A mother who lost her son in Vietnam told of her son's loyalty to his country. He told his mom how he felt when the flag passed by and why he wanted to defend the rights of other people so many miles away from home. Hearing his mother tell the story choked me up and made me so proud of this young man.

Nearly every day I pass Freedom Corner, Broadway and West End Boulevard, and see the replica of the Statue of Liberty, our country's flag dancing in the breeze and the brick columns listing men from Cape Girardeau County who lost their lives defending our freedom. How wonderful it is that we have this corner in the heart of our city. Miss Liberty is as beautiful here as she is in New York.

Our Pledge of Allegiance is short and sweet but a reminder lest we forget. To have been born in the United States of America, the land of plenty, how lucky I am!

Barbara Yallaly

Cape Girardeau

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To the foreign onlooker, it may seem as though now would not be the time to praise our nation and write an essay describing why we love it. Yes, we are at war, and yes, our economy is not at its best. However, the way I see it, this is a time when our country needs us the most. This is a time when we should sit down and reflect upon those things that we truly are grateful for and those things that really do make our country the greatest in the world.

One of the reason why I love our country so much is because Mother Nature has blessed her with an abundance of natural beauty. America is absolutely beautiful from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the borders of Canada to the Gulf. As far as I'm concerned, we never even have to leave the country to experience the best of Mother Nature's talent.

Another reason that I love and appreciate our country is for her history and diversity. It almost seems as though those two things wouldn't even fall into he same category, but they do. Our history is what has allowed us to be diverse.

This is only a modest declaration of why I love America and could write so much more, but I must close. In conclusion, I just want to say that I hope everyone will just stop and think for a moment about all of the great things this nation has to offer that you would not be afforded anywhere else in the world. This nation has seen trying times, and yet to this day, and now more than ever, I cannot hear our national anthem without welling up with tears for love of this country and what it stands for.

This truly is the "land of the free" and the "home of the brave," and this will always be "one nation under God." God Bless America!

Tiffany Grojean

Jackson

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It's not about flag waving or hanging a paper flag in your window. It's not about putting a bumper sticker on your car or wearing red, white and blue. It's not about blindly following leaders.

It is about my grandpa explaining to a 12-year-old kid the importance of respecting the driver of the car with the Disabled American Vet license plate, especially since Grandpa himself was unable to serve. It's about understanding the past, even when it's not pretty, and shaping the future, even when it's scary. It's about being able to criticize policy and program without fear of retribution. It's about understanding and valuing the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and knowing others have those same rights, even if their views differ from yours.

Why I love America hasn't changed since 9/11. Nor has my inclination to prove an outward demonstration of such. I don't have a flag hanging outside my house. I don't have a magnet or bumper sticker on my car. And I still don't blindly accept what my government tells me.

Why I love America is about the past and the future. It's about struggling to improve conditions for those not privileged to be among the elite members of society. It's about the compassion behind our social programs. It's about the wisdom in guaranteeing rights for all, not just the popular of the rich. It's about fostering and encouraging the underdog. And it's knowing one person can make a difference.

Lisa Shirley-Boone

Jackson

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There is not and will never be another country like the USA. Most of all, I love her because of what she stands for, freedom. She stands for what's good and right. Much blood has been shed to keep her free, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the brave boys and girls who have given all for our great country. I love her because her motto is "In God We Trust." I love her because she is the first to come to another country's aid in their time of need. Not to mention how she helps her own people.

When my daughter was left a young widow with two small children to raise, I love the way our government came to the rescue with Social Security, literally a lifesaver for our family and millions of other families in our great nation. May God keep his hand of protection upon America, and long may she reign.

Betty Henry

Oak Ridge

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I am blessed to be an American with its rich spiritual heritage. Many brave ones gave their life for the freedom we have today. It didn't come cheap. Freedom to pray and worship God who made the heavens and the earth. Freedom to honor our flag and the brave ones who fought and died for it. Freedom of choice in work, education, etc. Freedom to rise above adverse circumstances. Freedom to hope and expect a better tomorrow. God has blessed America. I pray that our great nation will be worthy of his blessings.

Lucille Coursey

Olive Branch, Ill.

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Each of us are blessed with three loves in our life. We must love the Creator. We should love the creature. We may love the creation.

Love of country is often taken for granted, little realizing that we are stewards of this great land.

In the Declaration of Independence, our early fathers wrote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

All nations of the world have their breath-taking natural beauty. America alone is the one country that is worthy of the love of all of us.

May we always have the nature that is so beautiful at sunrise and so glorious at sunset.

May we always have the opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Need we want more to love than this, our native land.

Though there be among us those that can't be true, may we so love our America that government of the people, by the people, and for the people may always be our blessing.

Wilver W. Wessel

Cape Girardeau

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Its beauty, its beautiful people, its lovely harbors and arms. Its wonderful people working together when trying to get through. The people get going, and they show us what real hope, peace, and trust can be. Our nation needs us, other nations need us.

Children playing and singing together. Our president carrying out what is in his heart and helping us become strong and brave. America has been and always will be "My Country 'tis of Thee," beautiful flag waving high in the sky to welcome one and all to trust in God, to welcome strangers to a land of freedom and bravery, for one and for all. So let's salute America and her beautiful people everywhere. They have a heritage and legacy to leave their families that surpasses other nations. I am proud to be an American.

Karen Cook

Cape Girardeau

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I love our country because I was taught our country was founded under God's guidance by Christians who desired to live for God. They left Europe and settled here so they could have freedom to worship, for they were persecuted there.

I attended a one-room school house. We pledged allegiance to our country every morning. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, I entered Army service, leaving my trucking business behind. I served two years in Europe during World War II. I think to refuse to pledge allegiance to our country is an affront to our servicemen who died over there.

Dean Loftin

Thebes, Ill.

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July fourth, as a day of annual commemoration, has repeatedly come and gone (despite many crises and contrary influences), finding us still a liberty-loving people; and the uniting force of freedom has, in the providence of God, preserved us as a nation, notwithstanding the fact that in many places and in many philosophies one will find expressed the idea and belief that freedom is an element of weakness rather than an element of strength. But those who have proceeded on this false assumption have discovered that men who have tasted the sweetness of liberty have more to fight for and more to live for than men who haven't.

Despite this, however, throughout all centuries all manner of substitutes for freedom have been proposed. Ambitious leaders and aggressive peoples, times without numbers, have persuaded, deceived, cajoled -- and have used force when these methods have failed -- to induce others to yield their freedom of action. And peoples and individuals have often been known to exchange freedom for peace, freedom for plenty, freedom for the promise of security -- freedom for everything conceivable -- and they have all made bad bargains, no matter what they got or how long the kept it, for freedom once yielded is bought back in costly ways.

Ultimately, and sometimes after much wandering in the wilderness, nations and peoples come to the formula of freedom, having learned that neither a supposed efficiency nor a ready-made way of life is an adequate substitute for freedom, even though it attempts to anticipate every need and every want. Knowing the weaknesses of men, knowing the errors of history, knowing the alleged inefficiency of democracy, knowing all the possible abuses of freedom, there yet remains the inevitable conclusion that no other formula leads to the lasting happiness or progress of men -- all other schemes to the contrary notwithstanding, whatever their source and whatever their intent.

The message of July Fourth, those past and yet to come, is this: That there are no acceptable substitutes for freedom, and this is why I love America.

Alvin W. Kamp

Jackson

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Love of country starts as a tiny spark, gradually growing into something too deep to express. My spark was ignited in early childhood when we sang and recited many things about America. Sometimes it takes pain or loss in order to know how we really feel.

Only once have I been out of America's protective boundary. My first hurdle was the language. I was the foreigner. Our activities were monitored at all times, and I thought of America's "inalienable rights." Unable to take pictures of certain sites made me think of America's freedom. As our visas were being checked, I thought of America's liberty.

Visiting dignitaries didn't see the way most of the population lived. I thought of the words "created equal." My eyes misted with pride when I saw the American flag atop the embassy, never had it looked so beautiful to me.

Panama was alive with tropical beauty, the climate was delightful, the food was exotic, but it wasn't "the land of the free." I'm glad I made the journey, I'm glad I had America to come home to. With all its flaws, America is home and the "pursuit of happiness" really is our "inalienable right."

My love for America, which had lain dormant at times, became an overflowing love. God has blessed us in so many ways with God given opportunities. God chose where I was to live, and I have had the opportunity to choose which way I wanted to grow.

Dorothy Wolfe

Chaffee

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I love America because of her rich, proud heritage, because of the courageous men and women from many countries, who carved this great nation from the raw, vast wilderness. They endured many hardships, overcame many obstacles, molded and formed the foundation of this "government of the people, by the people, for the people".

I love America because of the loving spirit of her people. We are not a perfect nation, we are not a perfect people, but we are a caring, compassionate people with a strong belief that "all men are created equal with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." In times of trouble or disasters, we pull together to help each other, whether friend of stranger. We freely give of ourselves to help those who are less fortunate.

I love America because of the many freedoms we enjoy: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to come and go as we desire, freedom to achieve our potential. We can criticize our leaders without fear of retribution.

I love America because of the gallant men and women who wear, or have worn, the uniforms of our great military services. They have risked life and limb, not only to protect our freedoms, but to help remove the yoke of tyranny from other countries. Many will take the scars of war to their graves. We owe them a debt we can never repay.

I love America because of her great natural beauty. Her majestic mountains, pristine lakes and great rivers, her endless prairies and deserts, her beautiful seashores with waves crushing against rock and sand all blend together to form one of God's best creations.

So be proud you're a citizen of this great land, and pray that God will lend a hand, so we may continue to always be, "home of the brave, land of the free."

Gordon Spencer

Cape Girardeau

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I feel that my life exemplifies the American way. I also feel that the two most important factors in this life are the freedom and pursuit of happiness that America provides to each of its citizens. I was born in the depth of our Great Depression. I was raised dirt poor and on welfare. I remember many sad moments growing up because I could afford only those activities that were school sponsored.

I did not have the wherewithal to attain a higher education, so I embarked on a career in the military at an early adult age. This country afforded me the opportunity to achieve whatever I wanted if I didn't infringe on the rights of others. I recognized these opportunities and attained the highest enlisted grade in the minimum of time.

Along the way, I got married and had three children who grew up with every happiness this free land offers. I was directly involved in military operations that gave me firsthand knowledge of oppressed people in many parts of the world. I saw that life is a living hell in many countries of the world. Those experiences just strengthened my love for America and my resolve to keep it free at all costs. Today, my wife and I enjoy a wonderful retirement and we actively support all activities that are engaged in maintaining our freedoms. I love America for being exactly what it is: free, prosperous, and charitable.

Troy O. Wilburn

CMSGT, USAF, Retired

Kelso

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I love America ...

For its eclectic blend: With every nation in the world living here, I've been able to experience many cultures with my senses. I can walk down the street and talk with China, Korea, England, Ireland, Germany, Nigeria, etc. My tastebuds have experienced the cuisines of Latin America, India, Taiwan, France and counting. Readily available on store shelves are rhythms and melodies in CD form. If I never step outside the U.S. borders, I can still experience the world's cultures through the stories of my family and friends.

For its generosity: The flood of 1993 is my experience. My street in St. Louis was surrounded on all sides with water from two rivers. We were given food and extra supplies since so many businesses in our area were flooded out. Though our homes were not flooded, we were not forgotten.

In response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, floods of money and volunteer efforts encouraged the rescue and clean-up crews and helped rebuild the nation's morale. Our presence in Iraq is no different with the soldiers handing out government and citizen-donated water and food.

For its natural beauty: America's landscape has it all, from the foliage and mountains of New England to the deserts and canyons of the Southwest, from the tropics of Hawaii and Florida to the artic tundras of Alaska. I plan to see it all: the sweltering swamps, broad plains, snow-capped moutains, cavernous hillsides, sandy deserts, tumultuous rivers, hot springs, geysers and waterfalls.

For its freedoms: My religious faith is my choice and I am free to share it with anyone I meet. If I were to cross the few boundaries set in place, I'm relieved that law enforcement's worst punishment is jail or a fine, nothing physically tormenting.

Julia Metelski

Cape Girardeau

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What is it that makes America such a great place -- that defines the American spirit?

It's an interesting question to pose to a 22-year-old male. After all, I've only lived a little over two decades. The Cold War was practically over before I was ten. What can I know about America?

What I do know is that there's no minimum age requirement on being an American -- from the day they're born, citizens of the United States have the right to enjoy all this country has to offer.

In fact, I think my youth gives me a perspective from which to relish the benefits of American life that the older folks may have forgotten. It allows me to identify with one of the greatest aspects of American life, the attitude that built our country and made rock'n'roll -- rebellion.

Our nation is defined by a fierce independence that has allowed us to become one of the most powerful countries in the history of civilization, and that independence comes directly from our rebellious spirit.

The great forefathers of this country, people like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, were all rebels.

They decided they no longer wanted to be the subjects of the British crown, and they took matters into their own hands, helping to foment the great revolution that formed the United States of America.

And that spirit has continued throughout the history of our nation. The independent thinking that began with those first great American minds has continued to make America thrive. It gave us the capitalist system -- a system that built an economy that has been one of the strongest in the world.

It gave us the ability to expand our nation from sea to shining sea in the form of the pioneers who braved the uncharted territory of the west.

That's the spirit of America. Rock on.

Matt Sanders

Bloomfield, Mo.