The following essay by Windham fifth-grade student Aiden Day earned second place in a recently held essay contest by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 in Windham. Day, who read the essay at Windham’s Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, used his winnings as seed money for a jelly bean guess contest that Aiden and his family are hosting for hurricane relief.

Freedom

Freedom is a feeling of joy that flows throughout your body. Freedom gives you the power to do whatever your wondrous mind desires. Freedom makes me feel like I can believe what I want and do what I want.

Freedom is something that has been fought for in wars and is valued in the United States of America. When I gaze upon the gorgeous American flag, it reminds me of freedom. Brave men and women have given their lives to our country’s freedom and have battled in fierce wars. I have many relatives that served in the Vietnam War and got shot at so the U.S.A. could have their freedom.

Back in 1775, The Revolutionary War occurred. One of the reasons we were fighting in a war was because the British were giving us taxes that were unreasonably high but we had no decision on our laws. So Americans fought and soon the United States of America claimed victory and had freedom.

There are many ways people honor those who serve to protect our freedom, such as sending care packages and letters to soldiers or donating money towards the army. Helping soldiers makes them feel appreciated. I have written letters to soldiers and marched in the Memorial Day Parade. And in Cub Scouts we do multiple flag ceremonies where we respect our country’s flag that symbolizes our country’s freedom.

Countries that don’t have freedom live in a way that is different from others that do. If you don’t have freedom, some countries make you marry someone that you don’t love. They might also check to see what your talents are when you are young, and will decide what you will have for a job when you are older. So you might want to be a pharmacist when you grow up, but the country you live in might make you be a teacher. In other countries you could be arrested for stating your opinion and telling the government how you feel about a law. In America we can choose what we do.

Freedom is something that allows you to do what you want, when you want. I love freedom and I hope it never goes away.