One Flag—One Nation:
What the American Flag Means to Me
In honor of NMB’s 110th anniversary, we held a youth essay contest asking members (4th-9th grade) to describe what
the American flag means to them. The honest and heartfelt responses we received were truly impressive. Some of the
essays touched on ideas like loyalty and taking pride in their country, but they all shared the common theme that the
American flag symbolizes freedom.
Thank you to everyone who participated. Congratulations to the following young writers and cash prize winners:
Shyanne Savage (Sussex, Wisconsin), Tristan Stringfellow (Madison, Wisconsin), Hope Ebel (Zeeland, North Dakota),
William Brandl-Koerwitz (Waupaca, Wisconsin), and Matthew Koerwitz (Waupaca, Wisconsin).
“The things our founding fathers went through for our flag to fly high are
extraordinary. Slaves, soldiers, pioneers alike all went through some tragedy.
For what? Freedom.”
—Shyanne Savage (Sussex, Wisconsin)
“Our family, like those that have members serving in the military, are proud
to fly the flag to show respect to those that are keeping us free. On the
mountain of Suribachi, on the island of Iwo Jima, the flag was a sign for
the soldiers not to give up and to continue to defend their country for the
freedom of all.”
—William Brandl-Koerwitz (Waupaca, Wisconsin)
The Benefit News—Winter 2012
29