This year's "What America Means to Me" essay winners are (from left) Louis Scott, Auburn School, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Scott; Olivia Bouldin, Adairville School, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bouldin; Keyleigh Harlan, Adairville School, daughter of Ms. Sarah Harlan; Emma Macy, Adairville School, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Macy.

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Each yeah, the Logan County Republican Women’s Club sponsors an essay contest among the county’s elementary students. The topic is “What America Means to Me.” Here is this year’s winning essays.

What America Means to Me

By: Emma Macy

Immigrants, freedom and the Declaration of independence are what America means to me. The smiles on people who come to the “Golden Door.” American flags waving in the air, the things Americans did to get freedom, that’s that America means to me.

Immigrants are people from another country moving to this country. my great-grandparents on my mom’s side of the family were from Italy and came to America, so they could be immigrants. They came over on a ship and landed on Ellis island. then they came to Kentucky to start their new life and raise a family. Immigrants came from all over the world. that’s why immigrants remind me of America.

Everyone in America has freedom. Freedom is when you can go to any church you want. Freedom is when you can go to any school you want. You can listen to music and dance to whatever you want. Lots of countries don’t have the freedom that America has. I get to have freedom since I live in America.

The Declaration of Independence is a paper that lets America run itself. First, Great Britain ruled us. Then all of America didn’t like Britain’s rules, so we made the Declaration of Independence to let Great Britain know that we wanted to become our own country. That we we could make our own laws and give us freedom to make choices for ourselves and to elect our own president and other people. It is important to me because it lets me have independence. I can go where I want to, do what I want to, and make decisions for myself without my government telling me what to do. The Declaration of Independence is important to me because it led to my independence.

America means a lot of things but what it means to me is immigrants because they came from around the world to start a better life in America. America means freedom too because it probably would be a sad life without freedom. The Declaration of Independence is also what America means because it led to me freedom and freedom for America. I would never have wanted to be born anywhere else but America. That’s what America means to me.

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America to Me…

By: Keyleigh Harlan

Most people think of America and think beautiful, sweet, home and many more. I agree with all of those terms, but my inner perspective America is brave, a future, inspiration, and a big mystery. I have a reason for choosing those words. My reason.

America is often referred to as a big melting pot. Immigrants come here everyday for different reasons. All of us are different in many ways, but we have one similarity. We come or live in America to be free and an independent individual. America to me is a future those immigrants and even U.S. citizens. Immigrants also come here to live better lives, create who they are, and who they were meant to be.

Brave. America. The words go together like peanut butter and jelly. We fought for everything we have - independence, land and democratic lifestyle. We lost precious lives to get everything we have, but sometimes I don’t think it was worth it. Back in the old times, we were greedy. And we still are, but not as greedy as we were. Brave. That is a characteristic we are glad to have and not many countries can say the same. Brave. Now and forever.

America is a mystery. You don’t know what tomorrow will hold. I once heard a quote, “Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow.” I agree with that quote 100 percent. You learned from your mistakes and hope and try not to make the same one. but then again you hope. one turn and you could be going downhill for the rest of your life. Mysteries. The challenge of life.

Inspiration. People like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln are Americans who inspired me to be who I am no matter what. Famous paintings and other artwork, like the Statue of Liberty, are important to represent me and other Americans. A huge inspiration is Audrey Hepburn. She once said that, “Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm … As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” Inspiration like that is what America needs for this generation.

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What America Means to Me

By: Olivia Bouldin

What does America mean to me? To me, America means, “We the People.” it means no matter who you are and where you come from, America means acceptance. The power of democracy shines within our nation as independence rings throughout our country. The candle of freedom never dies out. America means striving to brighten the hardships of tomorrow. That is what America means to me.

The turning point of all history; America gains freedom. For four bloody years we fight on, we pledge never to give up. We break the chain; we lose the curse of tyranny. As the citizens gain rights they taste the sweetness of freedom. Americans all over the nation are gradually gaining the right to vote, own land and to be treated equal.

To be accepted, to be wanted and loved, is one of the greatest feelings. America has shown acceptance to any and all since its beginning. Italian, Mexican, Jewish or German, you are welcome in our nation. You can buy a home whether you are black or white, you can vote whether Jewish or baptist. It doesn’t matter who you are on the outside, what’s on the inside is what counts. America promises, you are accepted here.

The word future goes all the way back to our founding fathers. They worked extremely hard and continuously for the benefits of generations to come. Mothers, Fathers, Aunts and Uncles all over America go to work every day, not because they want to, but because of a brighter tomorrow. Parents strive to provide for a better tomorrow, an easier tomorrow.

The taste of freedom, the feeling of acceptance, the strive for a bright future all comes down to one word: America. We are pioneers, we fight for freedom, we make our dreams the truth. That is what America means to me.

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What America Means To Me

By: Louis Scott

You are very lucky to be living in America. Do you know why? Here are three reasons why.

Freedom

The first reason America is special is that I am free. For example, I have freedom of religion. In American I can be whatever religion I want. Also, I have freedom of speech and press. Even kids can speak up and tell how they feel. I can choose my career. in some countries, I can’t All in all, freedom makes America special.

Justice

The next reason America is special is that it is just. For instance, we are integrated. Boys and girls are not separated by the color of their skin. Also, I cannot by unusually or cruelly punished. My hand cannot be cut off for littering. Furthermore, the law is applied fairly. The law can’t be applied differently for me over another person. There is no doubt that America is just.

Representative Democracy

The final reason is that America is a representative democracy. For one thing, I have voting rights. I can vote for who leads or represents me. Also, America is a balanced government. No branch of government has absolute power. Moreover, the government protects the people. The government protects its people with laws, medics, fire departments, law enforcement, a military and others. As you can see, America is a representative democracy.

In closing, America is very special to me for freedom, justice and representative democracy. I have seen this first hand in Washington D.C.