Carson Sertoma National Heritage winners receive U.S. savings bonds

Three fifth-grade winners in the Sertoma National Heritage essay contest read their essays aloud Feb. 21 at the annual awards ceremony at Thurman's Ranch House.

Mariana Yanez, from Empire Elementary School, was the first- place winner; Bryana Painter, from Mark Twain Elementary School, won second; and Zeyda Medina, from Empire, won third.

The contest is part of the National Heritage program, which gives students an opportunity to express the opinions about the American Constitution, Bill of Rights, government and more.

This year's topic was 'I am an American' and open to all fifth-graders. The top winner received a $200 savings bond, second place winner a $100 bond, and third-place winner a $50 bond.

I Am An American

by Mariana Yanez

Wow! I never knew how tough it was to be an American long ago. Now I know why Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are so important. I like being an American because we're free, we have rights, and we get to go to school.

The first reason is that we get to be free. For example, we have the rights to choose our religion; plus we are not separated by skin color like long ago. We also get to choose our friends not by their skin color, but by their actions.

We also have rights for a lot of things, like the right for speech for example. We get to say what ever we want. We also have a right to go to a jury trial. They could handle it that way or another way.

Lastly, we have the opportunity to go to school. We could also have an education but not like long ago, girls couldn't have an education. That was not fair! Now we aren't separated by skin color.

I'm glad that I didn't live years ago. I think in the future kids will think the same things about us and our time. Again, my reasons are being able to be free, we have rights, and we go to school. Those are the reasons why I think I'm lucky to be an American today.

I Am An American

by Bryana Painter

Did you know that if you were born in the United States, you are an American? As Americans, we have many privileges other countries do not have.

We have freedom of speech, rights to freedom of religion, rights to keep and bear arms, rights on quartering of soldiers, rights against unreasonable search and seizure, rights of being accused of a crime, right to trial by jury, right to protection against excessive fines, rights not enumerated retained by the people, and rights reserved to the States and the people. Americans have the Constitution. The Constitution is the basic principles to govern a state, a country, or organizations. The document contains the law and plan of government of the United States.

Part of the reason we have war is because Americans believe in our soldiers to protect us because they care about our rights as Americans.

Other reasons I enjoy being an American is because I enjoy the beautiful mother nature that the mountains surround, gorgeous green grass with flowers popping out in spring. In winter we wake up finding snow surrounding our home, and then you can go outside looking at all the joy you see everyday.

This essay was a challenge for me because until now I never knew what the Constitution meant or that we had so many rights. People in different countries probably wish that they were able to have the rights we have.

I Am An American

by Zeyda Medina

As an American, I have many rights. Some of the rights I have are: religious freedom, for nobody to come into my house without a search warrant, and to change a law that I think isn't fair. Now, let me tell you more.

The first one is religious freedom. With religious freedom, I can go to any church I want! I also have the right not to have any religion at all. What I love best is that I can pick my religion so no one can tell me to be their religion.

Next, no one can come into my house without a special paper called a search warrant. No one can take anything from m y house. Even a police officer has to have one! The best thing is that if I have something personal they still couldn't take it without a search warrant.

My last reason is that I can tell the government that I think a law isn't fair. I can ask them to change it. I can ask them to make it fair, just because I think it isn't fair.

I hope that some of the rights I have discussed have changed your mind about being an American. These rights are why I love being an American. I have religious freedom, no one can enter my house without a search warrant, and that I can change a law because I think it isn't fair. That's why I love being an American.