Written by Grant Streder, sixth-grade student from Cincinnati’s West Side
What America 250 Means to Me
As a sixth-grade student from Cincinnati’s West Side, America at 250 makes me think about the power of sacrifice.
To me, sacrifice means putting someone else before yourself because you care about them or because it’s the right thing to do. It can mean doing something hard, giving up something you want, or being brave even when you are scared to help or protect others.
I am lucky to come from a family with a history of military service. I have heard their stories, seen their pictures, and held their medals. When I do, I try to imagine the sacrifices they made when they chose to wear the uniform.
In my own life, sacrifice looks different. Through school, sports, and numerous community service projects as a Northern Kentucky Young Marine, I hope to become a responsible American, a moral American, a humble American, and a patriotic American.
While I know I still have a lot to learn, I have learned that sacrifice is powerful. The examples from my family and from the veterans I have met remind me of that. It can be truly heroic as those made by our military members and first responders, by giving your time, talent, or energy to help others, or to simply discipline yourself. The power of sacrifice builds strong people, strong communities, and even the strongest nation on Earth.
I understand that my freedoms and the life I get to live are gifts from God, and they are also the result of the sacrifices made by countless American men and women throughout our history. As a citizen of America’s future, I want to do my part to make sure their sacrifices were not made in vain.
