Editor's Note: Waitsburg eighth grader Troy Anderson is one of two winners of this year's American Legion Auxiliary Americanism essay contest. He placed first in the state for grades 7-8. The other winner, Jacob Dunn, was featured on this page last week.

"How Can I Encourage My Friends To Show Pride In Being An American?"

H ow can I encourage my friends to show pride in being an American?

You can talk to them, tell them how lucky we are to be Americans. How free we are and all of the rights we have. Every day when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, say it with pride. Say it like you really mean it.

When I was younger, I was in Boy Scouts. We would raise the flag and lead the Pledge of Allegiance on Veteran's Day at the cemetery every year. My friends and I were always there at the ceremony and we stayed there almost the whole time. We also held up a banner and carried the flags in the Days of Real Sport parade. I put the Flag out on our porch every Fourth of July (or Independence Day, which ever you like best). I also wear red, white and or blue. My dad lets me light the fireworks with him. That's really fun.

My dad is very patriotic and loves red, white and blue. He has flags put on both of the doors in our work shed. He also loves eagles. We have clay and glass eagles on the computer desk. One of them is standing on an American flag. The room next to our computer has a lot of patriotic pictures, signs and banners hanging on most of the walls and doors. We have a banner on the closet door that says, "Proud to Be an American!" Even that room is painted blue.

My cousin James has always wanted to be in the Army. I can tell him that he needs to remember why he would go and fight, to keep our country safe.

One of my best friends also wants to be in the Army. I can tell himthe same thing, remember why you are fighting. Both of our dads were Fire Fighters, his dad still is though. Both my friends' grandpas were in the Army. One was in the Vietnam War and I can't remember which war the other one was in. The neighbors surrounding us are all either still in the Army or a veteran.

In typing this essay, I have been encouraged to encourage others to show pride in being an American. I am very proud to be an American. We have the freedom of speech and the freedom to vote. I have and will keep encouraging others to show pride in being an American.