Mark Alford: “We have started a contest much like the art contest where you can see the art displayed in the gallery just down the…”

“We have started a contest much like the art contest where you can see the art displayed in the gallery just down the hallway here, but we started a speech contest. We wanted to rebuild patriotism in America, and we are starting with school-age children in the Fourth Congressional District. The topic: What does America mean to you? We have two more winners today, Mr. Speaker, of this contest. I begin with Megan Walker from Buffalo High School, Buffalo, Missouri, Dallas County. She says: ``America to me is a place where I can choose who I want to be and am given the opportunities and resources to do it. America is my home, where I can feel safe expressing who I am no matter what I believe. I am given every chance possible to achieve my goals and build relationships with people that I choose. Americans are encouraged to be creative individuals by our country's leaders. I am able to feel safe and protected by my country and the people in it. We are allowed freedoms that many others are not, and I will forever be grateful for America.'' Our next speech contest winner is Aly Prentzler from Glasgow High School in Glasgow, Missouri, Howard County. ``America to me means freedom, freedom that has been fought for by brave men and women who serve in the military. It means even more to me since I have family members who have been part of the military. My papa served in the Army to make sure I have the right to make my own choices.…”