New York State Winner

Vincent D'Agostino
Rochester, NY
Greece Olympia
Public
10th Grade

Stop for a moment and close your eyes. Picture in your head a vast and diverse nation, one with beautiful mountains with snowy white tops, with magnificent apple trees that give birth to ripe, red fruits. Picture a land whose people are as diverse as its countryside, a land where men are born free, born with opportunity to make their own life, and where justice is handed down to the criminals who endanger society. This is no utopian vision; this is America. But what does it mean to be an American, to live in this nation?

An American is someone who values freedom above all else. "All men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Thomas Jefferson's words were those upon which our nation was founded, and during the course of our two-hundred year history, we have never forgotten them. While other nations fade in and out of freedom, America holds tight to this blessing.

An American is someone who is willing to sacrifice all they hold dear, so that their loved ones can live in peace. Since the days of the Revolutionary War, America's willingness to protect her people has been tested again and again. Our nation has never faulted on her promise to protect the people who have fostered and cared for her. Our proudest moments as a nation come when a fallen soldier returns home, that beautiful flag draped over their casket, their families shedding a tear for their sacrifice. These are the moments which unite us, which remind us that some things are worth more than life, and America is one of them.

Americans are people who honor tradition, and live their lives with morals and virtue. In an age where traditional culture is on the run, and the line between moral and wicked becomes blurred, our nation stands tall, a golden house on the hill, where traditions are still honored, and righteousness is still rewarded.

Ingenuity is the cornerstone of America, holding firm in the hearts of every American. Inventors such as Thomas Edison, entrepreneurs like John Rockefeller, and astronauts such as Neil Armstrong symbolize the American spirit. We are a people who do not know limitation, constantly coming up with new ideas. America is a nation whose people never stop propelling it forward, always pushing the boundaries of exploration and knowledge.

Americans understand that their nation is a powerful one: one which others turn to in times of need and despair. With this great responsibility in the world, comes a great duty. Americans understand their duty to their nation, and actively participate in government, in community affairs, and practice their freedoms daily. These are the most important aspects of good citizens, people who understand their duties as Americans, and do these tasks with a great honor.

The founding fathers had a vision of what the nation they created would be. It was a vision of liberty, democracy, and justice. Through all of our perils, these ideas have never faded from the spirit of America. As we head into a new century with many challenges before us, we must always remain true to these principles, principles that are the very essence of what it means to be an American.