HEART AND SOUL ANCHOR VETERANS DAY IN MENNO

National Honor Society once again hosts annual celebration recognizing and honoring service members of the community; essays, quilts mark the event

One by one they stepped forward — probably part pride, probably part nerves — and shared with those in attendance what American patriotism and democracy means to them. First it was sixth grader Eve Robb, then seventh grader Savanah Wielenga, then eighth grader Briley Cross, and, finally, sophomore Fallon Rich.

Each read their own words, written as part of the Patriotic Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests sponsored by the VFW in Scotland of which they were the winners. And all four readings served as the heart of the Menno National Honor Society’s Veterans Day celebration held in the high school gym Monday afternoon, Nov. 11.

Even though she is just a kid, Robb said, she can still honor America by using her voice.

“The truth is everyone has a beautiful voice,” she said. “You just need to find it and use it for good.”

Wielenga said her voice might not “change the world, but it can help a lot of people who need it.”

Cross said voices can be heard through speeches, letters and voting, all of which “can make a change in your community and even your country.”

And Rich offered a challenge, asking if the country of today is one that its founders would be proud of.

In many ways, she said, answering her own question, it is not.

“But it’s important to remember that the founding fathers designed the Constitution to be adaptable,” Rich said. “They knew the country would face challenges they couldn’t predict, and they gave us the tools to address those challenges through reform and renewal.

“The question we must ask ourselves today is: Are we willing to make the changes necessary to bring America back in line with the founding ideals of justice, liberty, and opportunity for all?”

If the reading of the essays was the heart of Monday afternoon’s Veterans Day celebration, then the soul came later, when eight men from the Menno community were bestowed with Quilts of Valor and Quilts of Honor for the time they spent — and service they gave — to the Armed Forces of the United States military.

The Quilts of Valor recognize service members who had “boots on the ground, meaning they were in the combat zone,” said Phyllis Oplinger in her introduction of the presentation.

Oplinger noted that the Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national organization founded in 2003 by a “Blue Star” mom — Catherine Roberts — whose son had been deployed to Iraq. In a dream, Roberts saw a young man sitting in despair on the edge of a bed, and in the next scene, he was wrapped in a quilt, changing his demeanor to hope and well-being.

The quilts are designed to provide “comfort and healing,” Oplinger said, noting the Quilts of Valor have been given to more than 300,000 veterans across the country.

Two were given on Monday, to Darrell Ulmer and Anthony York.

Quilts of Honor, meanwhile, are given as a token of thanks, solace and remembrance to other who have served, and are serving, “to protect and defend our lives and freedoms.”

“Each stitch that holds the layers together represents the love, caring and gratitude of the maker,” Oplinger said.

Six Quilts of Honor were given on Monday, to Donald Sayler, Marvin Goehring, Kenneth Bertsch, Lynne Ulmer, Daniel Liebl and Evan Wintersteen.

The Veterans Day celebration was led by Haylee Hall, president of the National Honor Society, and included patriotic music by the Menno High School band, as well and a touching moment at the end, when elementary students passed out hand-made cards to the veterans attending.

Here are the four essays, in full, that were read at Monday’s program.

Eve Robb

As a kid, I’m not sure what my voice is in America’s democracy.  I can’t vote for president until I’m 18, I don’t have a say in rules and laws, and people don’t listen to what we have to say.  However, the one thing that I can do as a kid is to honor my country by using my voice daily.

First, every morning at school the first thing we do after the bell rings is recite the pledge of allegiance, and at a sports game or a parade we stand for the colors and the Star-Spangled Banner. That is using my voice.

Next, Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.”   I really like this quote because if you believe in your dreams and work hard to achieve them your future is probably going to be great because you achieved your goals. If your dream is to make a big difference in the world, you could really do it by using your voice.

Therefore, one of my dreams is to change America with my voice. I can do that by using my voice to protest to pass certain laws. Hopefully, when I get a little older, I can run for governor of South Dakota. I will use my voice to campaign and spread what I think is good. I could even run and become president, but this won’t happen if I don’t believe in my dream. If I believe in myself and stay positive, I could make a big change in the world with just my voice.

Finally, there have been so many people that have been successful through the years in changing America.  People like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridges were successful during the Civil Rights Movement in making changes. I am just one person, but I can change the world with my voice. The truth is everyone has a beautiful voice. You just need to find it and use it for good. Don’t let others shut down your ideas, and if they fail do just what William Edwards Hickeson said, “If at first you don’t succeed try, try, try, again.”

Savanah Wielenga

Sometimes I wonder “Do I have the power to change something with just my voice or my actions?” Change takes place when someone does or says something and it affects another person.That person does something that affects another person and so on and so forth. However, what can I do so that I can make a difference? I can use my voice to help others, especially veterans.

For instance, I can use my voice to help with projects for veterans. One really exciting project is in Sioux Falls where they are building tiny homes for veterans. They also offer services like mental and physical help right in that neighborhood. I can use my voice in this place by asking people if they want to come and volunteer with me or promote volunteers for the village. I can also volunteer or fundraise for them by going around and asking for donations or hosting an event. I can also plan a service project that will help build tiny homes in the village.

Although my voice can help others, I also need to create actions. Through my actions, I can also help the Wounded Warrior Project by raising awareness for them by sharing inspirational stories about the veterans that have been helped through that program on social media. I can also help by donating my time by volunteering there and spending time with the veterans. I can also help by hosting a fundraiser and by promoting volunteers or by volunteering myself. I can also help by going and spending time with the veterans.

So, although sometimes I wonder if my voice and actions matter, I can still help people through projects like the Tiny Houses in Sioux Falls or The Wounded Warrior Project. By using my voice, more people will support organizations that help veterans that were hurt, wounded, or got PTSD.  When they went to war, our veterans were promised that they would get help when they returned. My voice may not change the world, but it can help a lot of people who need it.

Briley Cross

In America your voice is important because your voice can make a change in your country and even your community. Many people have changed the way people think just by using their voice and actions to make a change. Amanda Gorman wrote a poem about America’s democracy and is using her voice to try to change democracy at a young age. To make a impact on America’s democracy, people can vote, use voices to make a change, and speak out.

First, we can make a change by voting in elections. Voting is important because it decides who can lead our country and our government. Voting can make a huge difference in outcomes. America’s democracy gives individuals the right to vote for President of the United States or just for class president. I have run for class president and class secretary, and although I didn’t get the chance to be a president or be a secretary I am glad I got to be a part of an election and see how it works.

Second, we can change America’s democracy in school by making a stand and by going to the student council or school board to try and make changes in dress codes or even a four day school week. You can change these things by writing speeches or making a stand towards your student council. This shows that making even the smallest changes can lead to making a bigger change in the world.

Finally, we can also make a change by using our voices in delivering speeches. This is a very good way to get people to change our government and it is also a good way to get people to change their mind about something with which you may not agree or something that you want to change. You can also write letters to your city council or your school board to help a cause or change something you do not like and even these small changes in your community can create others to want to do the same.

To conclude, your voice is important because it can make a change in your community and even your country. You can make a change by just writing a speech or just casting a vote. Many people have changed their way of thinking due to other people taking a stand. This shows that my voice in America’s democracy is important.

Fallon Rich

When our forefathers laid down the foundation of this country, they wanted a nation built on the principles of justice, liberty, and determination. Alexander Hamilton once said, “it’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, and federal government.” Their goal was to create a government that would protect the rights of citizens without tyranny.

Today, I ask, “does America today live up to their expectations?”

In many ways, I think the answer is no. While America has maintained some of the core beliefs created by the father’s — justice, liberty and determination — the reality is that our country has staggered away from our forefather’s vision.

One of the biggest ways we’ve drifted from what the founding fathers wanted is how much the federal government has grown. They believed in a government that was small and focused on protecting our individual freedoms without getting too involved in our daily lives. They set up a system where the federal government had clear, limited powers, and most decisions were meant to be made by the states and the people themselves. But today, the federal government has expanded way beyond that original idea. Now, the federal government is way bigger than the founding fathers ever could have imagined. It’s involved in almost every part of our lives—whether it’s healthcare, education, or how businesses are run. This kind of centralized power goes against their idea of a government that serves the people, not controls them. The balance of power between the federal government and the states has shifted a lot, with the federal government stepping into areas that used to be handled locally. The founding fathers would probably be pretty worried about just how big and intrusive it’s become.

The founding fathers also warned us about the dangers of deep political divisions. They were afraid that factions — what we now call political parties — could tear the country apart. They wanted a government where people would work together and find common ground, putting the public good before party politics. Today, America feels more divided than ever. The political divide has become so extreme that both sides are less and less willing to cooperate. This has caused a lot of gridlock in Congress, where important issues like healthcare, immigration and climate change aren’t getting addressed because no one can agree. The spirit of compromise, which was so important to the founding fathers’ vision, seems to have disappeared. Now, it feels like partisan politics comes first, and the focus is more on scoring political points than actually serving the people.

Another way America has strayed from the founding fathers’ vision is in economic opportunity. They believed everyone should have the chance to pursue their own version of happiness. But today, economic inequality has reached alarming levels. The gap between the wealthy and the poor keeps growing, and many Americans struggle just to make ends meet. In today’s America, wealth often decides who gets access to opportunities—whether it’s education, healthcare, or even political influence. The idea that America is a land of opportunity for all, where anyone can succeed with hard work and determination, is increasingly a myth for millions. The growing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few undermines the founding fathers’ vision of a fair and just society. The founding fathers envisioned a government that was accountable to the people, where leaders would serve with integrity and transparency. But now, public trust in government is at an all-time low. Corruption scandals, the influence of big money in politics, and a lack of accountability have left many Americans feeling disillusioned with their leaders. It often seems like politicians care more about wealthy donors and special interest groups than the people who elected them. This erosion of trust in government reflects a serious departure from the founders’ vision of a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Finally, one of the most concerning ways America has fallen short of its founding ideals is its inability to act decisively on pressing issues. Whether it’s the climate crisis, healthcare reform, or systemic racism, our government often seems stuck in a cycle of inaction. The founding fathers designed the government to be flexible and adaptable, able to tackle the problems of the time. But instead of leading with courage, our government often seems stuck in indecision. The lack of leadership on these issues leaves many wondering if the government can still represent the people and solve the challenges of the 21st century.

So, does America today live up to the vision of our forefathers? In many ways, it does not. While we still hold elections and protect certain fundamental rights, the core principles of limited government, unity, and equality have weakened. The overreach of federal power, political division, economic inequality, and the erosion of public trust are all signs that America has strayed from the path the founding fathers set out. But it’s important to remember that the founding fathers designed the Constitution to be adaptable. They knew the country would face challenges they couldn’t predict, and they gave us the tools to address those challenges through reform and renewal.

The question we must ask ourselves today is: Are we willing to make the changes necessary to bring America back in line with the founding ideals of justice, liberty, and opportunity for all?