LaSalle Parish Essay Winners
As part of the LaSalle Parish Veterans Day events, an essay event for LaSalle Parish students was conducted where students were asked to submit an essay on the subject of “What A Veteran Means To Me.”
Two students, Eli Peppers, senior from La-Salle High School, and Ivy-Kate Morphis, a sophomore from Jena High School, had their essays selected as the overall winners.
During the LaSalle Parish Veterans Day program held Saturday, November 11, both students read their essays before the crowd as part of the program.
The following are their essays:
What A Veteran Means To Me
By Eli Peppers
Defined by Google, a veteran is a person who has long experience in a particular field. Although to most this is what it means, to me, it is so much more.
Veterans to me are the most physically and mentally tough people in the world. You have to be physically strong to be a good soldier, but a great soldier has a mental strength that most can’t seem to grasp.
They feel drawn to serve our country and do it to the best of their ability. In the words of Amanda Gorman, “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if we’re only brave enough to be it.” Being a light isn’t easy, but the men and women who serve should be what America stands for. They have to endure their service and some suffer from PTSD after they are done. They know the risks and are potentially affected for the rest of their lives.
The fact they know this and still do that for us should mean the world to all…I know it does to me. With all that being said, thank you veterans for everything you do, and we appreciate you more than you know.
What A Veteran Means To Me
By Ivy-Kate Morphis
The word “war” has been normalized within society. It has lost its meaning and connotation that the word has obtained for decades. The younger generations of today have never firsthand experienced such conflicts to even be able to fathom how impactful such a small word is.
Though I am part of this younger generation, I have been blessed with the wisdom of knowing the extreme importance of those that are the foundation of our country. War is not a game or a joke to play with your friends. It is a harsh reality that only true heroes can undergo, which is truly what a veteran is.
Military veterans are the epitome of a hero. There is a reason such a term is overused in this context. I cannot exaggerate just how significant the bravery and attitude of the men and women that fought for us is. Not many people that I know would smile at someone they didn’t know, let alone put their life on the line for a country that doesn’t give veterans near the recognition they deserve.
When I tell you they are the very building blocks of our country, I mean it. The selflessness shown from our military veterans should be something we all strive to show. Veterans are the very image of our country which is exactly what they are to me and so much more.
The only thing I can hope one gathers from my words is a time of self-reflection. I strive to be half as good and brave as our veterans and hope others do to.
A simple thank you means the world. So dear veterans, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you do because I truly think the world of you all.
