As a very small community, in the deep south, where we drink sweet tea sitting on the porch and say “y’all” in every sentence, we stick together as a whole through everything. If someone needs a helping hand we lend it. If we see someone in need, we give the shirts off our backs to help them because that is the kind of community we are.

I can remember from a very early age how everyone came together as a whole when something impacted the community. It could be anything from death, all the way to a wedding, or just to celebrate new life… Being an American, particularly a Southern American, means that we stick together as one whole group and never split when something goes wrong; we are united and we are strong.

Not too long ago a tornado hit our little town of Puckett and I remember everyone staying together and helping people out by getting trees off their houses and clearing pathways so people could get home. People were helping with everything, finding other places to sleep and giving neighbors food and water. We truly stayed together during a very hard time in our town.

Americans can come together as a whole to stand with each other at all times no matter what happens to us. We are united. To be American is to be free and humble toward each other, and that is what we are in Puckett, Mississippi.