“How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”

This question was posed to high school students in the Voice of Democracy (VOD) competition and to junior high students in the Patriot’s Pen competition, both hosted by Licking VFW Post #6337. Their annual VOD and Patriot’s Pen Awards Banquet was held on the evening of Monday, February 16.

After a delicious meal, award winners showed their patriotism and support for our country by reading their essays aloud to those attending.

VFW Commander Billie Krewson, Auxiliary President Tina Sisco, and Committee Members Dennis McKinney, Ed Folger, Aaron Hall, Hazel Krewson and Adonia Rask were present, along with other members of the VFW and the Auxiliary. Teacher Charlene Bever, of Raymondville R-7 School District, was also present to hear her students present their works. Licking R-8 Board of Education member Tammy Sullins attended as well. They were joined by the winners and their families.

Lily Godi, of Licking High School, won the Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.

Patriot’s Pen essay winners from Raymondville School included Kimber Mosley – first place, Molly Kell – second place, and Tohbyas Smith – third place. From Licking Junior High, Jasper Rodgers’ essay took first place and Sofie Hutsell’s won second place, though neither were able to attend the banquet.

Below are the award-winning essays.

By Lily Godi

When I think about patriotism, I don’t picture parades or politicians. I picture the people who quietly care about our country every single day—the teachers who stay late to help their students, the neighbors who lend a hand, the volunteers who give their time without expecting anything in return. To me, that’s what real patriotism looks like. It’s not loud or showy. It’s steady, humble, and personal. Patriotism is love in action—shown through gratitude, respect, and responsibility.

For me, showing patriotism starts with gratitude. I’m grateful for the freedoms I have—the freedom to speak, to learn, and the freedom to practice my faith without fear. I’m thankful for the men and women who served our country and for the sacrifices they made to protect those freedoms. But gratitude alone isn’t enough. It’s one thing to appreciate what others have done; it’s another to live in a way that honors it. I try to do that by respecting my community, standing proudly for the Pledge, and remembering that the rights I enjoy were earned by people who came before me.

I also believe patriotism means caring enough to make our country better. It’s not about pretending America is perfect—it’s about wanting it to live up to its best values: fairness, opportunity, courage, and unity. I show my patriotism when I help a classmate who’s struggling, when I listen instead of arguing, or when I take time to understand someone else’s point of view. Those moments might seem small, but they reflect what I believe America should stand for—respect, compassion, and the willingness to work together, even when it’s hard.

Patriotism can be found in the simple choices we make every day. Whether it’s showing kindness to someone who needs it, participating in school and community events, or staying informed about the issues that affect our country, these small actions help shape the kind of nation we want to be. I may be young, but I know my voice and effort matter. Someday I’ll have the right to vote and make decisions that affect our country, but my sense of duty begins now—with how I treat people and how I carry myself as a citizen.

So, how am I showing patriotism and support for my country? I do it by being grateful, by helping others, by learning from history, and striving to live out the values that make our nation strong. Patriotism isn’t a single moment or special holiday—it’s a daily choice to care for the country we call home. I believe the truest form of patriotism is not just loving America for what it is but believing in what it can be—and doing my part to help it get there.

By Kimber Mosley

“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy. You may wonder how to show support and patriotism for your country at a young age. You might ask yourself, “How am I supposed to have my voice heard?” or “I’m too young to make a difference.” You may even feel that the little things you do for your country aren’t enough. But they are. They matter, and they do make a difference.

Showing patriotism and support for your country means caring for your nation and being willing to help and serve it. This can be done in many ways, both big and small. Some ways include saying the Pledge of Allegiance, praying for your country, participating in community service, donating to charity, honoring veterans, or, when old enough, voting for leaders who represent your values.

There are also many everyday actions that demonstrate patriotism, even if you don’t always notice them. For example, every morning I say the Pledge of Allegiance when I get to school. Every night before bed, I pray for our nation in times of darkness and hurt. In school, I show respect to my teachers and classmates, whether during lessons or free time. I also follow the laws and do my best to act responsibly and respectfully, both in school and in the community. These small choices reflect my care for my country.

As you can see, there are many ways to show support and patriotism for our country. This can be done at home, at school, or in the community through fundraisers, food drives, and other acts of service. People all over our country contribute in different ways, and each action matters. We all have the ability to show respect, responsibility, and love for our nation,and by doing so, we strengthen the country and the community we share.

By Molly Kell

I show patriotism and support for my country in many ways, such as honoring veterans, being a good citizen, and praying for my community, state and country. I am so thankful for everyone who has fought for our freedom and made it possible for me to live in a great nation.

One way I show patriotism and support for my country is by honoring veterans. I thank veterans when I see them in public and make sure they know their sacrifices are appreciated. I remember and honor them on Memorial Day and Veterans Day by joining local activities that recognize their services. I also visit veterans in nursing homes and write cards to thank them for everything they have done for our country.

Another way I show patriotism and support for my country by being a good citizen. I obey the laws in my community and respect the people and authority figures around me. Every morning at school, I stand and show respect to our nation by placing my hand over my heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I also donate money and time to help others through benefits, food drives and coin drives. Volunteering at places like pregnancy resource centers, food pantries, libraries and schools helps support people in my community and show my love for my country.

The last way I show patriotism and support for my country is through prayer. During the last presidential election, I prayed for God to guide our country in choosing the best leader. I believe prayer is important because it reminds us to seek God’s help and wisdom in making the right choices for our nation. I also believe it’s important to understand what the Bible says so that we can look for strong,moral leaders who will make good decisions for our country.

I am so thankful to live in a country like mine. I’m proud that even at my age, I can help show support and patriotism. As I get older, I plan to continue showing my love for America by voting, volunteering, and always respecting my country. For now I will continue to honor veterans, being a good citizen, and praying for our nation.

By Tohbyas Smith

Patriotism is the act of showing complete devotion and love to one’s country. Supporting our country is something that all citizens of the United States of America can do in a multitude of ways. I, for example, show support for my country by spending time doing community service. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is another way that I show patriotism, but I am not the only one who participates in these acts.

A plethora of people support our country by helping their communities and assisting those in need, such as the homeless. However, some activities, like voting, are only available to people over the age of 18. Still, teenagers can make a difference too. My peers and I show patriotism by raising a flag and donating to local charities for veterans. My classmates and I celebrate Veterans Day by creating cards for retired soldiers, praying for active soldiers, and participating in our schools’ Veterans Day program. Supporting our Veterans is important, and a simple way to show respect is by displaying our nation’s flag. My family and I have embraced this, and now we proudly fly a flag outside our home.

My family and I also show patriotism through a unique service in our food truck. Since March, any veteran or individual in need can eat for free at our food truck. We also display a flag at the front, symbolizing that we are a patriotic food vendor. Additionally, we share our devotion to our country on social media platforms, like YouTube and Facebook, spreading messages of pride and support to others.

In conclusion, being patriotic isn’t something that everyone must do, but it is something we should strive for. While I already participate in many activities that show support for my country, there are always more ways I can contribute as I grow older. I want to leave you with the words of John F. Kennedy: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” What are you doing for your country and how are you showing patriotism and support?

By Jasper Rodgers

Anytime a catastrophic event happens in America the world thinks they finally have us down when in reality America always comes back better and stronger. Take 9/11 as an example, Iraq thought they finally got the best of us by taking down the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 people. After, we got back on our feet and everyone banded back together and became an even stronger country. Patriotism reigned through the country. United we stood. Patriotism embodies pride, joy, and bravery, to name a few. My definition of Patriotism is caring for and respecting your country.

How I show my patriotism to my country. I show my patriotism by standing and taking my hat off for the National Anthem. This is one of the most important things to do. It shows respect for all the troops, fallen soldiers, and just our country in general. This is a very easy task but one of the most respectful tasks. For that 1 minute and 30 seconds all the problems in the country seem to go away and everyone just stands and takes in the moment.

Another way that I show my patriotism is by saying thank you to every troop and veteran I see. It is something so easy but to see the veterans face when you just say thank you makes your day. It is just a respectful thing like if you see a troop and say thank you that makes him feel like he is respected.

The nation has been through so much since the start of the nation. Every challenge and obstacle our nation has faced, America has come out on top. I know little things like standing for the national anthem, cleaning up the streets, and saying thank you to all of the troops and veterans may not seem like you are showing patriotism and supporting your country but every little thing matters. There is a quote by John Wayne that I love that says “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” I feel like that quote defines America and our troops, because sure, we as a nation might be scared, but even though we are scared we do it anyway to keep our rights and to stay together as “one nation under God.”

By Sofie Hutsell

Everyone serves America in different ways. For example, some people go into the military to serve. Others abide by constitutional laws and respect towns, city communities. How do you respect town or city communities? One way is to pick your trash instead of leaving it on the ground. Another is to not steal, murder, commit fraud, money laundering, and yet the list goes on, but you only have time for so much.

The question that stands in my mind is how do I serve my country? Then I remember what I do every morning, I wake up, get ready to go to school. Aaha! School is a way to serve my country, but what’s in it for me? For me, I get a good education, so I have three main keys through the door of life, respect, confidence, and intelligence. Respect helps me to be nice and considerate of my surroundings, such as being in a coffee shop filled with people. Confidence helps me realize I don’t have to be afraid of anything. Lastly, intelligence helps me to understand the world before me and to be ready to learn new things.

Another way I serve my country is by abiding by the laws. How do I abide by the laws? I abide by the laws by picking up trash, helping the community, not breaking the laws, and being a good citizen. Now the question is, how do you serve your country? Do you serve in the military, abiding by laws, and more. There are many ways to serve your country but being a good citizen is in the top two. Make America healthy again, get all the bad things out and make it better.

One last thing, a good citizen. A good citizen is someone who speaks the truth. He/she can be a good citizen by abiding by laws, being respectful, staying clean, and much more.

This essay is how I am a good citizen by going to school, abiding by laws, and being a good citizen. Someday I hope to be an American leader just like the other leaders out there in the world.