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South Carolina State Winner

Melanie Helm
Lancaster, SC
New Covenant Christian School
Private (Religious)
10th Grade

Great Americans make America great. George Washington is one of the greatest examples of what it means to be an American. He was loyal to the people while the foundation of the United States of America was being established. He was humble, he cared for others more than he cared for himself, and he turned down a third term of the presidency because he knew that it would not be in the future best interests of America.

One of the greatest presidents that America has known was Ronald Reagan. He always had a sense of humor about himself and in any situation. When he was shot and near death, he had a wonderful attitude. He is famous for his quip to his wife, Nancy: "Honey, I forgot to duck." On the operating table he told the doctor that he hoped he was a Republican. The surgeon, who was actually a Democrat, replied, "Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans." He protected the United States of America, achieving "peace through strength," and made certain that all Americans would be safe. He never turned away from showing America's power, and he was instrumental in bringing freedom to Europe and in keeping our own country from being attacked. He had the courage, going against his own advisors, to challenge Mr. Gorbachev to "bring down this wall," and the Berlin Wall came down. Many Americans were greatly influenced by President Reagan.

I also admire President George W. Bush. Early in his presidency, terrorists attacked our country. No matter how hard the media tries to pull Mr. Bush down for protecting America, he still stays the course. He has more perseverance than anyone else I know, and he inspires me to be diligent in everything that I do. Every person who has met President Bush says that he is extremely personable and concerned about other people. He makes me proud to be an American.

Probably the most important requirements for being a good American are a person's honesty, integrity, and character. Abraham Lincoln is a wonderful example of these traits. He is famous for telling the truth and for leading people in the right way instead of deceiving them into going the wrong way. Lincoln was not greedy or self-centered. He knew that everyone's freedom was important for America's character, so he fought for the abolition of slavery. He cared about the American people and their concerns. When President Lincoln was murdered, all Americans knew that they had lost a great leader that will never be forgotten.

Finally, I honor the men and women who now fight for our freedom. Last year, our basketball team got a new coach. His military discipline took us from a 2-15 losing season the previous year to a 15-10, 8-3 winning season and third place at state. Last week, he told us that his reserve unit is being deployed to Iraq, and he would miss the rest of our games and practices. We will miss him terribly, but we all honor his commitment to his country. Coach Barry Lee exemplifies what makes America great. His determination, drive, and abilities taught us to believe in ourselves. He never gave up on us, and he taught us never to give up on ourselves.