[Kathy in Alaska]

Operation Tribute to Freedom Essay Contest Top Sixth Grade Winners Tell What Freedom Means to Them

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2003 — Lindsey Rettke from Mililani, Hawaii, has watched her father deploy in the name of freedom throughout her life. In the Weekly Reader’s Operation Tribute to Freedom essay contest, she remembered being “a confused and scared 5-year-old girl, clinging to my dad’s leg” and not wanting to let go as he deployed to Bosnia.

Four years later, Lindsey remembers that “tears rolled down my cheek” as she hugged her father goodbye when he deployed to Kuwait. “But once again,” she wrote, “my mom told me not to worry.”

Now, at age 11, she wrote that her father is once again preparing to deploy, this time to Afghanistan. “Now that I am older and more experienced, I understand what freedom means,” she wrote in her essay, the top winner among entries from sixth-graders throughout the United States.

“Freedom means that it is okay to be sad, scared and lonely at times,” she wrote. “But most of all, freedom means being proud of an American soldier, my dad.”

The rest of the story

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[beachn4fun]

Hey Ma..... have you heard the new song by Toby Keith called, "American Soldier?" He has a video to go with it but I haven't seen or heard it yet.

I also saw a Dan Rather interview with Toby and Dan mentions the Maines Chicky/Toby Keith feud. Dan says that he (himself) can imagine see Toby and that Maines girl (my words!) on stage together and Toby and her hug! Toby laughs at Dan and says, "You really have an imagination, don't you?" Dan says something like, "You wouldn't do that?" Toby laughs again and shakes his head NO.

It was so funny! But, it was a good interview!

Anyway, got to go back to work. Hope to check in a little later. Could you take a nap for me?

[TexasCowboy]

That one box is not enough, Kat.
Beautiful!

[Kathy in Alaska]

READY FOR DUTY — Charlie Flight of the 823rd Security Forces Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., form up for duty at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, Dec. 6, 2003. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Lisa M. Zunzanyika