My name is Shelbie Noel. I wrote my Symbols of Freedom essay for a class project. That was
not my only reason once I found out what my subtopic, The Military was going to be. Then a
grade for class turned into something meaningfulto me, I found how important the military really
is. I then wanted to learn about every little detail, I talked to my family and my friends family that
was in the military. lt is a great symbolof freedom, these men and women risk everything for our
country. I never really think I knew what that meant until I learned and did all of my research. The
military means alot to me and I can only hope that it means that much to you.
lf lwere to win award money for my essay it would mean a lot. lwould spend the award money
for my schools community projects, for an example we clean around town to made our town a
better place to live.
The Military - A Symbol of Freedom in America
Written by: Shelbie Noel
The symbols of freedom mean a lot to the United States, and lets us know that
we are protected. \Men I think of the symbols of freedom I think of the military because
if we did not have the military we would most likely not have freedom. The people of the
military protect us and are willing to risk everything even their lives for everyone, not just
one person or group, and that to me is worth everything. The military is split up into
three main branches the Active, Reserved, and the National Guard. On top of all that
there are five branches in the Active branch, five in the Reserved branch, and two in the
National Guard branch. Due to the fact we have military we have freedom and safety.
The first main branch of military is the active branch. lt is made up of 5 different
parts of the military, the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast guard. The
active branch is when you are on the battlefield (first line). First, the Army is the oldest
branch of military, the army requires "quality training aþle to go hand-and-hand on
missions readiness and success on the battlefield." says ("today's military). Second, the
marine corps have to be ready at all times and the conflicts are normally on the ground,
these people take not only physical readiness but also mentally. Third, the Navy is
"capable of winnÍng wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom at the seas."
given by the artical ("Naqy Organization"). Next, the Air Force is in the air combat and
their mission is to fight and win, they also work sometimes on land or sea. Lastly, the
Coast Guard protects our personal safety and security, they work in the water to do
these things. These branches help us in so many ways to keep our freedom, but it takes
a lot more than just physical combat to keep our freedom.
The next main branch of military is the reserve branch, which consists of the
Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserue, Navy Reserve, Air force Reserve, and the Coast
Guard Reserve. The reserve branch of military is used to provide training units, which
means you are not on the battlefield but you help plan and promote combat. lf you are
part of the reserve you are allowed to have a normal life which allows you to go to
college or be home with your family, that is more than the active branch allows. First,
the Army Reserve will help if a group deploys the Army will take their place, or in the
case of a natural disaster they will help citizens with relief. Second, the Marine Corps
Reserve have the same traíning as the active branch does, but they normally "provide a
balanced, and prepared force" says the article ("Ready at all Times"). Another, The
Navy Reserves mission is to "provide strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities
to the NaUy and Marine corps team and joint forces, in times of peace and wa/' says the
("Mission of the U.S Navy"). Next, the Air Force Reserve contribute full time to the
missions on the battlefield by planning and giving information. Finally, the Coast Guard
Reserve serve part time for safety mobility and security. This branch is important for the
active branch because this branch is how the active branch gets its information.
The last main branch of military is the National Guard which consists of two
branches the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. According to the article
Mind, Body, And Grit the National Guard takes "not only physical and mental toughness,
but commitment for everything that yon do" ("Mind, Body and Grit"). The Army National
Guard trains at home until needed then it's off to do there job. The Air National Guard
serves the federal and state governments by assisting their community, they also train
and will be called out to duty when needed. The National Guard makes sure to keep our
country safe and free everyday, on and off the battlefield.
I hope these reasons show you that the military gives us freedom and safety.
The military is very important and they will always keep fighting there for you and l.
Without them I don't know what we would do. The branches are important even the
Reserved branch is, say for instance if there was a major war the reserved branch
would all be called to fight. lt takes brave and knowledgeable people to serve, they have
to be ready at all times. All symbols of freedom are important, so next time you think of
the military remember, without them there would be no freedom. \Mthout the military
would we have the freedom we have?
Works Cited
"Learn More About the Military". Today's Military.com. Department of Defens e. 2015.
Web. Feb.16 2015.
"Organization". The United States Army.com. n.p. n.d. Web. Feb.1T 2015.
"Mission of the U.S Nar4y". US Navy Organization.com. United States Navy. n.b. Web.
Feb.17 2015.
"Our Mission". About the Air Force.com . n.p.2014. Web. Feb.l7 2015.
"Born Ready". United States Coast Guard.com. United States Coast Guard/ Homeland
Security. 2014. Web. Feb.1 B 2015.
"About the Reserve". The Mission of the US Navy.com. Nar4y Recruiting Command. n.d.
Web. Feb.18 2015.
"Air Force Reserve". Today's Military.com. Department of defense.2015. Web. Feb. 18
2015.
My name is Parker Jacobs. I really wanted to write about Rosie the Riveter because as
a kid she inspired me! \Mten lwas 10 my grandma brought me to Washington D.C. lt was an
amazing adventure meant to teach me allabout our american history, At a museum she told me
about the story of Rosie the Riveter and how ít gave her and her mother hope when she was
little' This inspired me and taught me how much Rosie actually changed our nation. Wren we
started this class project it was my honor to write a story about such an amazingamerican icon.
lf I were to win this money from this competition I would buy books about are amazing
American history. lwant to learn about how our nation became so great and one day tell my kids
about how great America is.
Rosie the Riveter
Written bY: Parker Jacobs
Rosie the Riveter is an icon to the United States and gave many women hope in
\ A/r/ll. Many people say that Rosie is just a poster or is an old drawing. But I say it isn't'
Because of the
The poster of Rosie saying, "we can do it" is what helped us win \
^/Vll.
hope and jobs it gave to women, I think that Rosie the Riveter is a symbol of freedom.
First of atl, "on December 7 1941, 183 Japanese war planes flew over and
attacked U.S.A's Pearl Harbor in Hawaii" ("Rosie the Rivete/'). This caused much
destruction and threw us into chaos. Because of this surprise attack and many deaths,
Roosevelt finally called the United States to !\ÂNll. Because of this war a lot of the men
had to leave from their normal jobs to fight in the war. Because of this the women had to
take over the mens jobs like they have never done before. Thus Rosie the Riveter was
born. All women could vote at the time but all work was still left to the men. When they
left everyone had to step up. The women weren't afraid to get there "hands dirty" and
because of this it gave the men a new view of what women could do.
Secondly, Rosie the Riveter was a hard working icon to the women that worked
in the factories and other hard jobs. This caused the women to live up to what they
knew they could be and show the men what they were made of. "The artist that worked
on the picture of Rosie wanted her to look larger than life" ('\nrho was Rosie the
Riveter"). This fabulous picture caused the Women in War Jobs campaign. Rosie the
riveter was like Uncle Sam to all men. Uncle Sam was getting men into the war, while
Rosie was getting women into jobs.
Lastly, "Rosie was key to retooling the United States" ("What Ever Happened To
Rosie written by Nancy. A. Nicole"). Before the war many women didn't have jobs and
thought it was not feminine to work in factories. Rosie the riveter changed the idea of
that. Because of the glamorized image of women working in factories like Rosie the
Riveter it made women change their views opening up new opportunities in life.
Because of the hard work the women put in, when many of the men came back from the
war the women still kept their jobs in the factories. lt was a new life for these women.
Because of Rosie the Riveter the United States won world war two and gave many
women new jobs.
Rosie the Riveter was a symbol of freedom for the United States and gave
women new hope and jobs. Because of this icon it changed the way we see women.
We even won the war because of ít. The women stepped up to the challenge and
showed the men that women could do the same jobs. Rosie the riveter will forever
continue to be a symbol of freedom in America long after World War Two because she
changed our views of women, and our country forever.
Works Cited
"Who
Alyia Hoyt.
was Rosie the Rivete/'. How stuff works. n.p. n.d. web. February 24
"Rosie the Riveter". u-s history. n.p. n.d. web. February 24
Nancy. A. Nicole. "What Ever Happened to Rosie the Riveter". hbr. n.p. July 1993. web.
February 24
Gwen Perkins. Who was Rosie the Riveter. washington history online. n.p. n.d. web.
February 24
Law Dav 2015
Kenedy Woqdring
The reason I chose to write about the 4th of July as my symbol of freedom is because I
believe it celebrates the important events that occurred in order for our country to
become independent. The holiday that we celebrate each year is the best example of
freedom that we have in our country.
The Library at Wlritehall middle school is getting a little out-dated on books. lf I was to
be awarded the funds I would donate the money to my school to upgrade our library
with new educational material, to promote public awareness to Law Day. Along with a
few new popular books.
Fourth of Julv
Written by: Kenedy Woodring
Freedom is one of the most important things in the United States. lf you think about it
we really would not be able to do anything without freedom. There are many symbols of
freedom that we have, there is the Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, the American flag,
there is also a holiday that celebrates our freedom, the Fourth of Julyl Many people
think of this day as just fireworks and having a party, it celebrates the Declaration of
lndependence and our freedom. The Fourth of July is a very important day because it
celebrates the day our country became independent.
ln the beginning the United States was just an extension of England, but we wanted to
become independent. The United States thought it would be a good idea to create a
continental congress, so we could be an lndependent Nation. The first continental
congress didn't work out like they thought it would, so we decided to create a second
continental congress. "During the American Revolution the second Continental
Congress was formed" ("History.com"), which they created the Declaration of
lndependence, which made our country independent. The final copy of the declaration
of independence was drafted by John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert
R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
Later on the Fourth of July was starting to be celebrated around the world. The Fourth
of July was first celebrated in Philadelphia, and then other people found out about it and
started celebrating it and sharing this new holiday with friends and family. "July Fourth
is considered the most patriotic holiday in the United States" ("4 Brief History of the 4th
of July"). The Declaration of lndependence was actually finished on July second, but the
Declaration of lndependence was official on July fourth. So you could celebrate it on
either day!
Finally let's just talk about the fun on the Fourth. There are "parades, festival, beautiful
fireworks, family gatherings, barbecues" ("The Story of the Fourth of July"), and a lot
more, On the Fourth of July my family gets together at our cottage and we have hot
dogs and hamburgers, good old American food! There is also fun boat parades and
beautiful fireworks. Fourth of July is time to get together with families and recognize our
independent Nation.
The Fourth of July is very important because it celebrates our independence and
freedom,The United States started out just a little extension of England, and now we are
independent. So we need a holiday to celebrate that. The Fourth of July is very
important, because we can throw a party to celebrate our independence. There are
many things on the fourth that are fun, and it is a great holiday to think about our
freedom. So the next time you celebrate the fourth of July, think about why we have this
holiday and our freedom.
Works Cited
"A Brief History of the 4th of July". Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 28 Jun. 2007. Web.
Feb.2015.
"The Story of the Fourth of July". Constitutionfacts. Oak Hill Publishing Company. n.d.
Web. Feb.2015
"July 4th". History. n.p. n.d. Web. Feb.2015
Hello, l'm Rebekah Cook. I wrote an essay about bald eagles and I would
like to enter your writing contest. I choose to write about bald eagles
because they are one of my favorite animals. I learned a lot about the
bald eagle when researched them. I knew they were a symbol of freedom
but before I researched them I didn't know why. When I wrote my essay I
decided to write about why bald eagles are a symbol of freedom. I would
give the prize money to either my reading teacher or the school library to
get more books for my school. I hope you enjoy my essay!
Batd Eagtes
Written By: Rebekah Gook
There are many symbols of freedom in America, from the American dollar, to Lady
Liberty, to the Fourth of July. My favorite symbol of freedom is the Bald Eagle. They
are noble, brave, and just plain cool. Due to the fact that Bald Eagles have survived
through hard times, are America's national bird, and are beautiful and courageous, Bald
Eagles are a symbol of freedom.
First, Bald Eagles are a symbol of freedom because they are a national bird. Due to the
fact that eagles are native to America, they were chosen to be America's national bird.
Native for a Bald Eagle means that it only lives in America. Bald Eagles have a long
life, so they were chosen as the United States's national bird. According to the article
("National Bird - American Bald Eagle"), "ln the wild, an eagle will live 30-35 years (up to
50 years in captivity)." Since Bald Eagles are a national bird, they are a symbol of
freedom.
Next, since Bald Eagles have survived through hard times, they are a symbol of
freedom. Eagles became rare because people would shoot them. Just to make
matters worse, Bald Eagles ate animals that ate DDT. "DDT is a commonly used
pesticide," as written from the article ("DDT'). Bald Eagles became endangered
because of shootings and pesticides. Since they became an endangered species, the
shootings stopped. DDT was banned and coincidentally, Eagles began to recover.
Bald Eagles have been through a lot so they are now they are a symbol of freedom.
Last, Bald Eagles are beautiful and courageous, therefore they are a symbol of
freedom. Bald Eagles are considered beautiful because they have a white head and
tail, brown and black feathers, and pale yellow eyes. Bald Eagles were once
endangered and coincidently, are strong. According to the article ("American Bald
Eagle lnformation"), "Eagles sit on the top of the food chain," which furthermore proves
that they are strong and brave. The bald eagle is a symbol of freedom because it is
beautiful and courageous.
Bald Eagles are beautiful, courageous, are America's national bird, and have survived
through a lot, therefore are a symbol of freedom. Bald Eagles are my favorite symbol of
freedom, and I now hope you know more about why they are one. There are so many
different symbols of freedom, over 28 that I can count. Since Bald Eagles will always be
strong, courageous, and beautiful, they will continue to be, a symbol of freedom.
tdoçTs Cite"d
"American Bald Eagle lnformation." American Bald Eagle lnformatíon. 1999 - 2015.
Web. Feb.2015.
"National Bird - American Bald Eagle." sfafe Symbols UsA.
web.
Feb. 2015.
"DDT" U.S Environmental Protection Agency. April, 18,2011. Web. Feb.2015.
Hello, my name is Aiden Dykman. Many ask me why I chose Abraham Lincoln as my Symbol
of Freedom. Wty not the 4th of July, or the Bald Eagle. I chose Lincoln as my Symbol of
Freedom because, in my opinion, he is underrated. As I state in my essay, most people know
Abraham Lincoln as the president with a beard and a big stovetop hat. I know him as the
intelligent, strong, and brave 16th president of the United States of America. lwant people to
know more about what he did, and allthe risks he took to stop slavery, in the end, dying
because of it. So I hope that when you read my essay, you will no longer think of Honest Abe as
just a president, but instead, a hero to our nation. lf I win this Symbols of Freedom Essay and
get the cash prize, lwould like to use it for my English classroom, to get more books. I feelwe
should be able to have more newer stories, but also be able to get the classics. I think thís would
benefìt the learning of our classroom and expose the students to different variations of literature.
Abraham Lincoln: A Symbol of Freedom
Written by: Aiden Dykman
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President, and one of the most known. But not
many know all about him, some hear his name and think of the stovepipe hat he wore.
They also may think of his involvement as the president during the Civil War. But I think
of him as one of the most noble and courageous men our country has ever seen. He
didn't believe in slavery and he wanted to stop it. So he did, even if it risked his life. I
think that because of what Abraham Lincoln did and the many acts of freedom he
accomplished, he helped make America what it is today.
My first reason that Abraham Lincoln was brave is because he was wise and
hardworking as a child. Abraham Lincoln was born Hodgenville, Kentucky to Thomas
and Nancy Lincoln on February 12th,1809. He worked hard as a boy and did many of
the house tasks. lt helped him learn patience, hard work, and responsibility, I feel this is
a strong example of how his childhood led to his successful presidency. After many
years of working at the family home, he moved to New Salem, lllinois, in 1830. He then
got interested in politics. He eventually became a member of the lllinois House of
Representatives. He became a Republican in 1846, and soon after he ran for Senate.
He ran against Stephen A. Douglas for senator. He was only five votes off of becoming
senator. He despised slavery and thought it was against what the Founding Fathers
wrote about. Then in 1857 Dred Scott, a black slave, sued his owner John Sandford,
because they went into a free state and therefore Scott should be free. The Supreme
Court said that blacks were not citizens, and said Scott had no right suing his owner.
Lincoln denounced the verdict, saying his famous speech of "The authors of the
Declaration of lndependence never intended 'to say allwere equal in color, size,
intellect, moral developments, or social capacity', but they'did consider all men created
equal-equal in certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness'." this is a big sign of how he really he thought everyone equal and wanted
to change the world. He thought slavery was wrong, so he stood up against it.
The next reason I believe he was also one of the most brave presidents because
he stood up against something so morally evil, like slavery, even though half the nation
despised anyone who tried to stop it. He wanted to change the United States so he
campaigned for president. He won with 1 ,865,593 votes and 180 electoral votes. The
south thought this was wrong for him to do that, and they came together as The
Confederates. This caused Lincoln to think hard on what to do. He sent troops out on
April 12th, 1861, to see what was going on at Fort Sumter, then the Confederates fired
at The Union and thus, the bloodiest war in history had started. The Civil War. A war
was starting for slavery and for states rights, but Lincoln wasn't scared. Slavery would
end, he believed it.
The last reason I think he was brave was because he wasn't frightened when the
war broke out in America, and never fled. The Civil War really made Lincoln think a lot
about how he would win the war, and not destroy the nation. lt was tearing the country
apart, all he wanted to do was to create equality around the world, but what if he
destroyed the United States? This is why he was brave, he stayed with what he
believed. The Civil War went on for four more years, and in 1864 Lincoln was re-elected
for president. After one last battle the Confederates gave up on April 9th, 1865. Slavery
was over, because of Lincoln's work, the nation would now be equal, for slavery was
outlawed! Another way Lincoln helped make America what it is today. Lincoln was
praised, he had made America equal. Not everyone thought what Lincoln did was right.
Just because slavery was outlawed didn't mean the South went along wíth it, they
wanted Lincoln to be gone. However on April 14th, 1865 only a few days after the Civil
War had ended, Lincoln went to see a production of Our American Cousin at Ford
Theatre in Virginia. He was accompanied by Mary Todd Lincoln, General Rathbone and
Clara Harris. Suddenly Lincoln was shot in the middle of the show by actor John Wilkes
Booth. He was rushed to the hospital but died the next day on April 15th. He stopped
slavery but in the end was killed for it. He knew he may be injured for what he was
doing, but he still did it, only because he believed it was right. Lincoln helped stop
slavery and made America right, the home of the brave, where everyone is equal!
Once again I believe that because of what Abraham Lincoln did and the many
acts of freedom he accomplished, he helped make America what it is today. The
reasons being, that he died to stop slavery, he fought a war to fight against it and he
stood up about something that most everyone thought was good, which risked him and
his family. For his acts of bravery he has been immortalized in monuments, such as The
Lincoln Monument, and Mount Rushmore, and even on President's Day we celebrate
him. This is why to me Abraham Lincoln is one of the biggest symbols of freedom, and
equality. However even little things can make big differences. He stopped slavery, but
what would it be like today if we still had slavery, or if Lincoln never was president?
Works Cited
-N.4, "Abraham Lincoln", Wikipedia, Wikipedia, February 3rd, 2003, lnformational, N.A
-N.A "Abraham Lincoln" White House, The U.S Government, N.A, lnformational, N.A
My name is Lara Hinze. My Law Day entry is about Independence
Day. I choose my topic because it is a symbol of freedom. I started out as
a class project, but when my teacher heard about Law Day she thought it
fit the topic. I also thought it would fit the topic of Law Day because
without laws or government there would never be an lndependence Day.
lf I were to win a cash prize what I would do with it is I would donate
it to charity or use it to buy books for the school so they can learn more
about Law Day. lf I do not win though, I won't be sad þecause I know
there are many other talented people in it too.
lndependence Day
Written by: Lara Hinze
The United States has many symbols of freedom. Freedom means to be able to do
something without being told that you can't. The symbol that I am writing about is
lndependence Day. lndependence Day or the Fourth of July is the National Holiday of
the United States. Due to the fact that many Americans celebrate lndependence Day, it
is a true symbol of freedom of the United States of America.
First, many people may think lndependence Day is the that the Continental Congress
signed the Declaration of lndependence. Or the day that Thomas Jefferson wrote the
first draft to the Declaration, but what really happened on July 4, 1776? "The
Continental Çongress approved the final wording of the Declaration of lndependence on
July 4, 1776". (The Story Of The Fourth Of July) The Continental Congress was editing
itfor 2 days after it was submitted (which was July 2,1276).
Second, there are many ways to celebrate lndependence day. Two of the most
common are parades and fireworks, but that doesn't mean those are all of the ways to
celebrate. ln large cities there are sometimes concerts, festivals and many more fun
stuff. There are "appearances by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and other
historical figures." ("10 ways to celebrate lndependence Day in Washington, DC")
Sometimes there are parades of soldiers in their uniforms and they have their guns and
shoot into the air.
Last, many people think of fireworks when they hear fourth of July, because they think
about the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War comes to mind because of the
bombs, which the fireworks represent on lndependence Day. "lndependence Day
fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The
Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis
of Thee", "This Land ls Your Land", and "Stars and Stripes Forever". ("lndependence
Day United States") Fireworks are usually seen in parks, town squares, and on tall or
important buildings.
Since so many Americans celebrate lndependence Day, it is a symbol of freedom for
the United States. lndependence Day is a way for us to celebrate our freedom in the
United States. Independence Day is a day because when the Continental Congress
approved the final wording of the Declaration of lndependence. lt is a very special day
for so many Americans because we are independent thanks to it. lndependence Day
will continue to be a day that makes many people feel proud to be an American.
o
.
¡
Works Cited
"lndependence Day (United States). Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. February
2015. Web. February 2015
"July 4th". History.com. A&E television networks. 2015. Web. February
2015.
"The Story of the Fourth of July". constitutionfacts.com. Oak Hill Publishing
company. n,d. Web. February 2015.
"10 Ways to Celebrate lndependence Day in Washington, DC".
washington.org. Destination DC. 2015. Web. February 2015.
My name is Alydia Jura. My literary essay, The U.S. Capitol Building, was
started as a class assignment. we had to write a literary essay on
Symbols of Freedom. I made my essay on the U.S. Capitol Building, ¡n
Washington D.C. The Capitol Building really represents freedom to me.
When I finished the essay, I had a thought. I was thinking that when I was
completely tired of running, and had no energy left, if the fate of our
freedom rested on how many laps I would run around the track, I would
try to run for a very long time, as long as I could. I did not know freedom
was so important to me until that moment.
lf I were to win the competition, I would probably save it for my college
fund, so I would get a good education and live a happy life. Another thing I
would do with it would be to buy a violin for myself. Wren I was in 4th and
Sth grade, I took strings class. I played the violin, and rented it. Then I
moved, and the next school didn't have strings class. I had to give back
my instrument, since we were paying $30 a month for it. I miss my violin
terribly, and even though I can't take lessons, I wish I still had it, so I could
play the songs I saved from my old strings class, and maybe learn more
online. That is why I want to buy my own viotin, so I don't have to rent it.
The U.S. Capitol Building
Written by: Alydia Jura
Freedom is a huge part of being an American. Symbols of Freedom are very important
to all Americans because they make us recall our past. Symbols of our freedom warm
our hearts when we look at them. They make us proud of our country. The United
States Government is a huge part of America and it's freedom. The Capitol Building in
Washington D.C. is the centerpiece of the U.S. government. I have been to the Capitol
Building. lt's beautiful and it made me truly proud to be an American. That is why I
chose the Capitol Building for the focus of my essay. The Capitol Building is a great
symbol of freedom and it contains many important artifacts that symbolize the freedom
and the growth of America.
The first visible artifact, on the Capitol Dome, is The Statue of Freedom. Visit the Capitol
states,"Freedom wears a helmet encircled with stars, topped with an eagle and eagle
feathers, the talons hanging on either side of her face" ("U.S. Capitol visitor center").
She symbolizes freedom because she is standing tall, and with the stars on her helmet
resembling the stars on our flag, and the eagle representing our national bird, she looks
proud to be an American. Therefore, she inspires us to be proud for our country. She is
definitely a huge symbol of the freedom we have.
A second feature, a symbolic room of the Capitol, is the Rotunda. The Rotunda is the
room in the center of the Capitol, on the second floor. "The symbolic and physical heart
of the United States Capitol is the Rotunda.", states Office of the Architect of the Capitol
(AOC). lt has a magnificent domed ceiling. The Rotunda is full of beautiful paintings of
important and special events in America's history. The Rotunda is a very old room. lt
makes us proud because you get to see all those special moments played out in history.
Each painting gives you a different emotion. The room itself makes you proud to be able
to stand up each day, place your hand over your heart, and say the pledge of
Allegiance.
A third part of the Capitol is the National Statuary Hall. The National Statuary Hall is fult
of statues of very important and diverse people in America's history. AOC says, "There
are 100 statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Each state may contribute 2
statues; all have done so." ("capitol Hill Facts") you get to see the people who
dedicated their lives to helping their country. Therefore, it really makes you proud that
they were so brave, and proud to be an American. lt makes you want to do the same for
the good of America. Those statues make us look at our past, and show us that we can
make our own destinies.
The Capitol Building symbolizes freedom because it contains many artifacts important
to America's history. The Capitol Building makes us proud of our country. Symbols of
Freedom are very important to allAmericans. They give us hope. Freedom is something
that hardly any countries have. We have the right to vote, and protest, and many others.
We are free. Maybe one day the Capitol will be a museum of our government, and the
government will use a different building to vote and talk with the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
Works cited
o
Virtual Tour - Architect of the Capitol. Virtually Anywhere. n.d. government.
February 2015
Capitol Hill Facts I Architect of the Capitol I United States Capitol. AOC. n.d.
government. February 2015
Statue of Freedom I U.S. CapitolVisitor Center. U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. n.d.
government, February 2015
o
o
My name is Jagger Reynolds. I chose to do the Abraham Lincoln Memorialbecause
believe what Abraham lincoln did was vitalfor this country to become what it is today. So I
thought what better way to show it then Writing about the Abraham Lincoln Memorial.
lf lwere to win the prize I would use the money to buy books. Also I would use the
money to get a better working area for reading and doing homework.
I
Written by: Jagger Reynolds
Freedom is where we can do what we want and chose what we want. But we do still
have rules to help us with being free but not out of control. That is what Abraham
Lincoln the 16th president of the United States help us with. He helped to free slaves
and keep the United States connected and free. ln the this essay I will prove that The
Abraham Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of the connection between the people in the
country and Freedom.
The most important reason to support my statement is that the Abraham Lincoln
Memorial is a symbol of the connection between people. I say this because Abraham
Abraham Lincoln helped to unite people in the civil war to agree that slavery should be
illegal. Also he made sure that the southern states did not decide to be free of America.
"Abraham Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his vital role as leader in preserving the
Union in the civil war"("Accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln")
My next reason is that the Abraham Lincoln Memorial shows the freedom for the people
in America. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial shows this because "he played a key role
in the passage of the thirteenth amendment," (history.net) The thirteenth amendment
was passed in 1865 which led to freedom of slavery.
My third and final reason is that the Abraham Lincoln Memorial gives pride to the people
of America. I think this because when people go and look at this they think of Abraham
Lincoln himself. Abraham Lincoln helped to free all people in America. So he gave
everyone freedom so we are proud that we live in America with freedom. With other
countries not having the freedom that we have today in America. Here is a quote from
Abraham Lincoln Himself "l have always thought that all men should be free"
I believe that I have proved that the Abraham Lincoln Memorial shows Freedom and
connection in this country. Through these three reasons he shows the freedom of the
people,the connection between the people in the United States, and he gives pride to all
all people in the United States. I believe that when people go to visit the Abraham
Lincoln Memorial they leave feeling proud of this great country we live in. There are so
many more symbols of freedom. What is a symbol of freedom to you?
Works Gited
Charles M. Hubbard. "Abraham Lincotn". historynet.com. Weider history network.
1998. web. Feb.2015.
R.J.Norton. "Accomplishments of Abraham Lincotn". rogerjnorton.com. n.p.
1996-2015. web. Feb. 2015.
Lewis Lehrman. mrlincolnandfreedom.org. The Abraham Lincoln lnstitute. 2OO2-2015.
Web. Feb.2015.
My name is Sam Stevens. The reason lwrote my essay about Uncle Sam is because lwanted
to learn how the idea of a man in a striped hat became such a symbol of freedom. I was always
curious on why we picked Uncle Sam to be someone we looked up to and made us proud. I
also thought it was important to know the history of world war ll also. Those were mainly the
reasons I wrote this essay. lf I were to win I would use it to take a writing class so that I can get
better at essays like this.
Uncle Sam
Written By: Sam Stevens
The U.S. started smallwith the colonists and the dream they had a long time ago then
began to grow into the huge self governing country it is today. Along the way we had
downfalls but got back up, even when it was hard. A symbol that shows how far we
have come and how hard we've worked is Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam remains a big part of
our country through all of the hard fought wars. Uncle Sam is a huge symbol of success
for our country and how far we've come.
First, thing that happened that made Uncle sam a huge part of our country was the war
of 1812. According to the article "during the war of 1812, the army was deployed in troy
new york. Wrile they were deployed there they got a shipment of meat from a man
named Samuel Wlson. Samuelwilson supplied food for the U.S. Army many times
before. The soldiers always joked about eating Uncle Sam's Meat. Soon the local
newspaper writer picked up the story and published it. The news began to spread out
around the country about Uncle Sam's meats". ("The History of uncle Sam")
Next, thing that happened which is also a very important part is the impact it had on
soldiers. The Article states that "during'vlA/r/l many people started to call the soldiers
Uncle Sam's warriors". This gave the soldiers a sense of pride. lt also encouraged a lot
of people to enlist to the army. Soon posters were made for enlisting. According to the
article the poster read "l want you for the U.S. Army". lt also had a picture of Uncle Sam
in a star striped hat and his finger pointing to the reader. This poster soon became a big
part in Americas history. ("The History of Uncle Sam")
Lastly, during the great depression the character Uncle sam had given the American
people lots of hope for whats to come. Still today it is encouraging soldiers to enlist
because they want to fight for their country that Uncle Sam embodies. Just like it did in
\AA//l and \
and it still means a lot to people. The article stated that "lt means so
^¡/ll that the government decided to make Uncle Sam a United States figure
much to people
in the year 1963". lt just goes to show how much Uncle Sam means to this country.
("The Real Story of Uncle Sam")
Uncle Sam is a huge symbol of bravery and pride for our country. He has given us hope
through the tough times and smiles for the good ones. He has been a symbol for the
U.S. for many years and will be for many more. He has become part of our country as
much as the president has. But though we remember Uncle Sam we forget hs history
and how he came to be. He is a symbol of freedom that we take for granted all too
much. \Men you look at a pícture of Uncle Sam you feel pride and patriotism.
Works Cited
A&E Network. United States Nicknamed Uncle Sam. History.com. A&E network.
September 7 2015. Website. Feb 20.
Uncle Sam's Past. 4real history.com. n.p. December 2015. February 20th.
Symbols of Freedom
Hello, my name is Riley Bond from \lVlritehall Middle School. I chose Mount Rushmore
because to me it symbolized four presidents that made a large impact on the United States. I
also chose Rushmore because I thought how much work and funds have been used and it is
quite inspiring that people would carve this glorious structure that makes the United States
unique. The funds would go toward more books because who doesn't need more books?
Mount Rushmore
Written by: Riley Bond
There are many symbols of freedom in America, Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell,
Constitution, but the one that stood out to me would be Mount Rushmore. Standing a
whopping 5,725 feet above sea level, and covers 1,278 acres! Mount Rushmore is a
tribute to four major presidents that were a large part of history, The four presidents are,
Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt.
Those four presidents lead a big part of how the United States became how it is now,
with freedom and equality. Mount Rushmore is a large symbol of freedom because it is
a tribute to four major presidents.
Most importantly, Mount Rushmore was carved in a 60 foot tall granite rock. Rushmore
is a very well known sculpture that hundreds of people visit each day. Over 3 million
tourists come to see the enormous carving. Many people go to visit Rushmore just for
the rock carving itself but many others come to learn the history of the well known
"Rushmore." The carving lead to a very special piece of history because it is a memorial
to the four presidents who led a big part of history. Over 89o/o ol the caruing was done
by dynamite, and the other 1 1olo wâs carving the faces Into the granite. "Mount
Rushmore National Memorial represents not only the past, but also a promise to the
future." (Mount Rushmore National Memorial). That quote means that Rushmore is not
only a part of history but represents what's to come in the future.
Also important, Mount Rushmore costed a grand amount of one million dollars to carve!
Many people visit this masterpiece. Many people call Mt. Rushmore priceless because
of all the work that has been put into the rock, and how amazing it truly is. The initial
concept of Rushmore was supposed to have the waist and the torso, but due to lack of
funding that was not not able to be fulfilled. "ln sculptor Gutzon Borglum's original
design, the four presidents were meant to be represented from waist up, but insufficient
funding brought the carving to a halt after completion of their faces." ("Deconstructing
History: Mount Rushmore'). The one million dollars spent on Mount Rushmore was well
worth the structure, and is very special because it's a monument of four major presents.
Least important, Borglum died and could not finish the carving. No more details were
added to Rushmore after Borglum died. "No carving has been done on the mountain
since that time and none is planned in the future." ("Mount Rushmore.net"), They are
keeping the mountain original, and nobody will ever carve in Rushmore again. Due to
Borglum's death and lack of funding, the faces were completed but the from the waist to
the shoulders weren't. The original blueprint of the carving had the torso and waist but
there was not enough money to proceed with carving, so they ended up just leaving the
shoulders and a small portion of the presidents shoulders.
A large symbol of freedom that is a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt,
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson is Mount Rushmore. As you can see Mount
Rushmore was carved into a ginormous 60 foot tall granite rock, that is 5,725 feet above
sea level and took over 14 years to carve! Rushmore costed a whopping one million
dollars to carve! Also, Borglum died before he got to finish the carving, leading to an
unfinished but massive, glorious, monument. Mount Rushmore is a large symbol of
freedom in America, and is a tribute to four victorious presidents that lead America to a
United Nation.
Works Cited
"American History, Alive in Stone." Nps.gov. National Park Service.2l9l2O15. Website.
February.
"Deconstructing History: Mount Rushmore" History.com. N.P. N.D.2015. Website.
February.
Mtrushmore.net. N.P February 24 2015. Website. February
Hello, my nome is Allison M.TenBrinK and I chose the botd eogte
os rny topic becouse it is on obvious choice for a syrnbol of freedorn. I
wonted to choose o topic sorneone Knew oboul, but needed to leorn
rnore of the history and origin. lts olso the United Stotes notionol bird,
giving you the hint thot "this bird is speciol". I olso wonted to share thot
the bald eagle can be found in Michigon, rnoKrng it rnore bondoble in
my essay.
Wilh the prize rnoney, I would either donate it to rny school or
sove it for college. I Know these oren't the rnost creotive wûys to use it,
but of least it isn'l going shopping of rnoll or sornethingl I would rnosl
liKety sove it for college, but if I were lo donote it to the school, I would
recomrnend using it to buy new supplies or rnoKe the school Tunches
EVEN HEAL]TIIERI
Bald Eagle- A Symbol of Freedom
By Allison TenBrink
The Bald Eagle, A.K.A. the BAEA, is the US national bird. lt's on the back of
many coins, they are the US Great Seal, and they are large, majestic birds. They have
been the national bird since 1872, and was chosen by Congress to be a representative
of the US. The Bald Eagle is a symbol of freedom because it stands for freedom,
bravery, and courage.
First, in one of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War, the soldiers
battle cries woke up some bald eagles from their nests. They flew over the soldiers,
circled and shrieked. The soldiers claim that the eagles were shrieking for freedom.
(baldeagleinfo.com) This shows that the bald eagle stands for freedom because it
shrieked for the soldiers and flew above them.
Next, of course, The bald eagle is our nations Great Seal. "The Great Seal shows
a wide-spread eagle, faced front, having on his breast a shield with thirteen
perpendicular red and white stripes, surmounted by a blue field with the same number
of stars. ln his right talon the eagle holds an olive branch, in his left a bundle of thirteen
arrows, and in his beak he carries a scroll inscribed with the motto: 'E Pluribus Unum'."
(baldeagleinfo.com) 'E Pluribus Unum' is Latin for'Out of Many'. The olive branch and
the arrows stand for war and peace. The eagle shows the pride for the country and that
everyone sticks together, even through harsh times.
Next, though the eagle stands for freedom, Benjamin Franklin thinks he has no
courage and should not represent our country. As he had once wrote to a friend;
"l wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he
is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly, you may have seen
him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the
labor of the fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is
bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues
him and takes it from him.... Besides he is a rank coward; the little kingbird, not bigger
than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by
no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest. . . of America.. . . For a truth, the
turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native
of America . . . a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the
British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on."
(Baldeagleinfo.com) Ben's letter didn't bother anyone, though. The bald eagle has been
the National Bird since 1872, but was officially adopted as the Great Seal in 1887.
Though Ben Franklin disagrees, I believe that the Bald Eagle is a true symbol of
freedom, mostly because it stands for courage, bravery, and the freedom of the US. lt is
one of the most beautiful birds in all of North America, and is large and graceful. I hope
this essay showed you how a bald eagle is a symbol of freedom. Who knows, maybe
you'll see one soon! É
Works Gited
"The Eagle, Our National Emblem". Bald Eagle lnfo. baldeagleinfo.com. N.D. website.
2t2015
Benjamin Radford. "Why is the Bald Eagle America's National Bird?". LiveScience.
Purch. September 13, 2010. Website . 212015
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "The American Bald Eagle". VA. US Department of
Veterans Affairs. N.D. PDF. 212015
Hello. My name is Gabe Bass. The reason that lwrote this essay was for a class assignment
on symbols of freedom. Though we were limited to that topic we each chose a different symbols
of freedom. I chose the Bald Eagle because I have always loved Bald Eagles because they are
so majestic, flying, soaring in the sky. \Mren you see one you are said to have good luck and
they always brighten my day. lf I were to win the money for the essay contest, I would add it to
my college fund to use in the future.
The Bald Eagle, A National Pride
Written by: Gabe Bass
We are very privileged to have freedom in America, many other countries don't.
Symbols of freedom in America are abundant; the American flag, the pledge of
allegiance, the constitution, they all stand for our freedom. There is one symbol stands
for much more; courage, strength, and majesty. The Bald Eagle stands for freedom, and
represents the strength of America.
One important reason the Bald Eagle is recognised a symbol of freedom is because the
Bald Eagle was chosen as the national bird on June 20,1782.lt was chosen for the
national bird for is long life, strength, and majestic look. Another reason the Bald Eagle
was chosen as the national bird was that it was believed only to exist on the North
American continent at the time. As a result of being selected as the National bird, the
Bald Eagle is found on many different things. According to an article at
Baldeagleinfo.com, "On the backs of our gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar and
the quarter, we see an eagle with outspread wings." ("The Eagle, Our National
Emblem") The Bald Eagle can also be found on The Great Seal of the United States.
Another important reason is, in 1972 DDT (a chemical that kills bugs and hurts birds)
was banned to protect Bald Eagles and other birds because they were being poisoned.
Baldeagleinfo.com states that, "Lead poisoning caused by ingesting shot is another
hazard to the Bald Eagle". lf Bald Eagles have the strength to survive through
poisoning, then they represent the strength of our country. As an effect of DDT and lead
shots being banned, the Bald Eagle population has started to grow to its former
population. Some people have even started to reintroduce Bald Eagles to places where
they had become extinct.
Most importantly the Bald Eagle's population had started to decline. They could have be
lost from the U.S. if we didn't do something to save them. There are many reasons
behind the decline in the Bald Eagle population. One reason is that humans eat some of
the things Bald Eagles eat; we take some of Bald Eagles'food like fish. The eagles die
because there is not enough food to eat. Another reason for the Bald Eagles' decline in
population is that during the westward expansion humans were destroying Bald Eagle
habitat causing the population to dwindle. As an effect of the decline in population;
Baldeagleinfo.com says, "Public awareness increased, and many states placed the Bald
Eagle on their lists of endangered species in the 1960s and early 1970s". ln 1973 the
endangered species act was passed which protected critically endangered species. ln
1976 Bald Eagles were put on the list of national endangered species. The Endangered
Species act protected Bald Eagles and they eventually began to repopulate with the
help of reintroduction programs. ln 2007 the Bald Eagle was removed from the
endangered species list.
Bald Eagles stand not only for the freedom, but the strength and courage of America.
America stands for freedom and the Bald Eagle is a perfect animal to represent our
nation. America is a nation with many symbols to represent it, among the most
meaníngful is the Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle stands for strength, when people see it
they are reminded of the strength of America.
Works Cited
Baldeagleinfo.com, 1999 - 2015 Web. February, 2015
"Bald Eagle" Wikipedia.org, Wkimedia,24 February, 2015 Web. February 2015
Hello, I'm Camryn Evans and lwrote my essay on "The Fourth of July". I chose the
Fourth of July because I believe that this holiday has lost its meaning. lf I were to win the money
in the Law day challenge I would use it on education such as books because I love to learn each
day.
The 4tn of July
By: Camryn Evans
The US celebrates our freedom in so many different ways. You can go and look
at monuments, or symbols. On the 4th of July people like to celebrate with parties and
spending time with family. Did John Adams one of the Independence day contributors
tend for it to be this way? The 4th of July is a symbol of freedom because it celebrates
our lndependence.
First and most importantly we celebrate the 4th of July as a celebration of being
free. We celebrate this by fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, and family reunions
but not everyone celebrates this way.. The 4th of July also celebrates our freedom
because it was the birth of the United States of America as an lndependent nation. We
declared lndependence from Great Britain. But for the first 15 lo 20 years of the United
States being independent in 1776 people did not celebrate this as a National holiday,
they didn't celebrate this much at all. This soon would be changed. According to the
article ("The Story Of The Fourth Of July"), "The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John
Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an
important date to be celebrated".
Secondly the Declaration of lndependence was a huge part of the 4th of July. lt
was a big part of the 4th of July because, the ("Charters Of Freedom") state, "ln
mid-June 1776, a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and
Benjamin Franklin were tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies
intentions on July 2nd, 1776". The Declaration of lndependence was written by the
minds and hearts of the American citizens Freedom. The United States was finally
signed as an lndependent Nation on July 4th, 1776. The Declaration of lndependence
is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty.
Lastly we celebrate the 4th of July with barbecues, hot dogs, watermelon, and
fireworks. But John Adams intended for it to be this way. He once told his wife Abigail
and I quote from the ("lndependence Day Article") "lt ought to be celebrated by pomp
and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from
one end of this continent to the other". Many believe that we don't celebrate our
independence in a respectful way. I think that over time the 4th of July has lost its
meaning, but at least we still celebrate it.
The 4th of July is a symbol of freedom because it celebrates our lndependence.
After reading this essay on the 4th of July remember that it is a day for our
independence. lt has been celebrated îor 238 years. I challenge you to see how many
people celebrate the 4th of July each year, in the way that Adams intended . Freedom
for all!
Works Cited
(lndependence Day, United States). Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. May 7th, 2005. Web. Feb
18,2015.
Oak Hill Publishing Company. ( The Story Of The Fourth Of July).
Constitiutionfacts.com. Oak Hill Publishing Company. Web. Feb, 201 5
(Declaration Of lndependence). Archives.gov. Web. Feb,2015
My name is Matthew Goodrich. I chose to write about the Declaration of lndependence because
lwanted to learn more about it and find out more facts about it. I also thought that it would be a
very cool and interesting topic. One more reason that I chose this topic is because I thought that
it was the best symbol of freedom there was because it declares our lndependence and freedom
from England.
lf lwere to win the contest I would put the money in an account that is for college.
Declaration of lndependence
Written By: Matthew Goodrich
Freedom, what is freedom? What do you think of when you hear the word freedom?
When I think of freedom I think of symbols that represent freedom, like the American
flag or the Star-Spangled banner, or maybe the Statue of Liberty. There are many other
symbols but the one that I wanted to focus in on was the Declaration of lndependence.
ln case you don't know the Declaration of lndependence is a document that was written
by the second continental congress and was finished on July 41h,1776.|t states that the
U.S. is going to separate from Great Britain and become an independant country. But
let's just get to the point, I think that the Declaration of lndependence had a huge impact
on the U.S. and is a great symbol of our freedom that we have today.
One of the most important effects that the Declaration of lndependence had on the
United States was that it "paved the way and created equality among men and women"
("Effects of the Declaration of lndependence"). You can even see it today, there is no
more slavery, men and women are equal, and no one is judged by their color. This is a
very important effect that the Declaration of lndependence on the U.S because if there
was still slavery and unfairness life in the United States wouldn't be a good life. Think
about it, maybe your neighbor wouldn't be treated fairly or wouldn't be able to get a job
just because of the way the look. That is why I feel this is the most important effect that
the Declaration of lndependence had on the U.S.
Another important effect that the Declaration of lndependence had on the United States
is the freedom that we have. Without the Declaration of lndependence we wouldn't have
the freedom that we have today, we wouldn't be speaking English, and we would be
ruled by a king. lt's amazing what life could be like today if we didn't have the
Declaration of lndependence. According to surfnetkids "The Declaration of
lndependence also gave birth to the emancipation of black slaves" ("Effects of the
Declaration of lndependence"), which stopped slavery. The Declaration of
lndependence also led to equality among men and women. As you can see the
Declaration of lndependence had a huge impact on freedom and equality for the United
States.
The last effect that the Declaration of lndependence had on the U.S. was that the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written. The Declaratíon of lndependence is part
of the reason why the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written. The reason is
because the colonists broke away from Great Britain they needed rules, so that is how
the Declaration of lndependence ties to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The
reason why this is so important is because without the Bill of Rights and the Constitution
our country wouldn't be what it is today. The "Declaration of lndependence is kind of a
large summary of what the Bill of Rights is" ("Effects of the Declaration of
lndependence") which states the first ten amendments As you can see these are more
important effects that the Declaration of lndependence had on the U.S.
As I said, the Declaration of lndependence effected the United States in many ways and
is a great symbol of our freedom. I believe that I have proven that with lots of
information about what the Declaration of lndependence díd for the U.S. I hope that you
have learned how the Declaration of lndependence gave us our freedom and affected
the U.S. in good ways. I think that the Declaration of lndependence is a great symbol of
freedom to learn about. This is just one symbol of freedom of America.
Works Gited
"Effects of the Declaration of lndependence." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing.23 May.
2008. Web. 24 Feb.2015.
"The Declaration of lndependence,1776." History.state.gov. n.p. n.d. Web. Feb.2015.