Memorializing the Fallen Heroes

Why Fallen Soldiers Are Our Heroes
by Tyler Krasusky, Grade 3

Fallen soldiers are our heroes. Instead of just saying defending our country was too
dangerous like many people do, they were brave, strong, and fought until the end. These are the fighting soldiers of America.

The men and women sacrificed their lives for three reasons: liberty, justice, and freedom for all. These people didn’t just run away screaming cowardly when the enemy attacked, they stayed at their post fighting side by side to stop the enemy.

Thanks to these loyal soldiers, America has only been attacked twice. Without these
heroes America might still have slaves and might not be independent.

These soldiers were the people who stood up for our flag. They did the nicest thing of all: granted us our freedom. That is why all fallen soldiers are our heroes.

***

Why Fallen Soldiers Are Our Heroes
by Stephanie Lewis, Grade 6

Many soldiers have been honored in our past, such as Harry S. Truman, James Garfield, or Ulysses Grant. But nobody ever really thinks about the ones who fell on the battlefields, who were willing to die with valor in order to serve our country. Those soldiers who never returned home to their families. These are the soldiers, who are, in my mind, our countries’ real heroes.

Have you ever tried to see yourself in a position on the battlefield, and thought about how you might be feeling? For me, it would be fear. Soldiers must be bold to walk proudly out there for our country, knowing that they might die. The ones who do are the ones who fight with all their heart, and fall of the USA. Sometimes we don’t value that, and the soldiers who died knew. They didn’t mind. To them, it wasn’t about how much fame they got. That modesty and humbleness truly is heroic in its own special way.

When you were a child, did you ever look up to a parent and want to be like them? For example, if your mom was a teacher, did you dream of going to college to teach? Many youths do. Some fallen soldiers had kids who looked up to them, and think of them as heroes. That’s all that matters. If the purity of a three year old can think of someone as a hero, we should be able to see their reasons, too. Soldiers are quick, strong, and diligent. Most importantly, they’re somebody’s mom, dad, or child. Family can be more heroic than any comic book hero. When you go home tonight, you should look at your parent, or child. Picture them as a soldier, out in the battlefields. Picture them as the one who falls, and then think about what they’d be to you. A valiant, sharp, quick-witted, dear person who the world would miss, but mostly, you’d see them as a hero.

***

“Honoring Our Heroes”
by Maxwell Boland, Grade 7

On Memorial Day we commemorate the heroes that have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives to preserve the freedom and high living standards we enjoy in the United States of America. A hero is someone who goes above and beyond what the regular expectations are and puts themselves in difficult situations to help others instead of themselves. Fallen soldiers are the greatest of heroes because they have given their lives so that we can continues to have the wonderful lives we have.

Every soldier has something or someone they fight for. Whether it is family, country or fellow soldiers. Although all soldiers put themselves at risk, fallen soldiers have given their very life to defend and protect our country. However, not only the soldiers carrying guns onto the battlefield have lost their lives. Many brave men and women have died caring for the wounded. Nurses and medics shot while helping wounded soldiers off the battlefield are sometimes the forgotten heroes. Specifically six nurses that died while helping injured soldiers in the Vietnam War. After visiting Washington D.C. I was overwhelmed while standing in front of the Vietnam
Memorial and next to it stood several statues honoring these special heroes. I was so proud to be an American that day looking at all the monuments and realized that war heroes and fallen soldiers represent all of us. Men and women from all walks of life that have given themselves for us.

In conclusion, all I can say is “Thank You” to all the brave men and women who have and given the ultimate sacrifice.

***

Why Fallen Soldiers Are Our Heroes
by Samantha Mairson, Grade 12

Imagine each sparkling star in a distant summer sky. The night is a blanket of darkness and uncertainty, but those stars are always watching over you. No matter how dark the night becomes, those stars take the risk and light your sky. Those stars are like soldiers. And for every falling star that I see, I make a wish that one day, those stars will come home and the world will find peace.

But until that day, I pray that we honor our soldiers. Too often, the names of fallen soldiers do not make the history books. But remembrance is bigger than the history books. Fallen soldiers are remembered by their loved ones, by their future generations, and by the country that they proudly defend. They are our heroes because they make the greatest sacrifice for our values and our beliefs. Freedom, equality, and justice are defended with the lives of American soldiers, and we must appreciate those soldiers.

When the stars come out, I climb into my bed. I am safe. I have so much to be thankful for. The world is mysterious place. People are dying, people are being born. Among those people, are my soldiers, my heroes.

For information about how these young authors developed their essays read .