A Legacy of Honor

My family has a history of serving in the military and it has engraved in me a high sense of patriotism. Each stanza in the poem is directed to a specific audience, friends and family, government, and fellow soldiers; also each photo relates in someway to each stanza.

By Lillian K. from Royal Oak High School in Michigan

To the friends and family back at home, there’s something I must say to you

I am not fighting for fame or fortune

I lay my life down for the freedoms that you are do

I am fighting everyday in places you can’t imagine, in places that are foreign


To my government, I see your flaws

I do not fight for these, for slavery or for genocide

This I do not applause

You destroyed and killed

You terrorized


To my fellow soldier we have come too far for our bond not to last

We stood side by side in good times and bad

I remember the fallen for they are my family that have past

The memories won’t fate though they happened so fast


For the land of the free and the home of the brave

For this I will fight till I lay in my grave 

Royal Oak High School

Miller's Thrillers

AP Lang and Comp Hour 2

America Is One

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Opportunity in America

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On Military Service & Success

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The Freedom of Speech

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OPPORTUNITY

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American Resilience and Progress

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The Building Block of Our Nation

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The Opportunity of Education

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What's to Be Done?

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American Opportunity

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American Creed

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America, a Melting Pot?

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What Americans Do

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Have American Values Changed?

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The Land of Opportunity

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Creating Understanding, One Story At a Time

Political polarization has become a huge issue in our country and by telling our own personal stories we can help to create a greater level of understanding to combat this issue.

How Being A First Generation Can Affect Views on What it Means to be an American

An examination on the similarities of how children of immigrants view their privileges and what it means to be an American.

American Individuals

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American Creed

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My American Creed & How I Understand the American Creed

This is my story.

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Heroes of the American Melting Pot

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Diversity & Equality

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A Country of Immigrants

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The Value of Family

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More responses from Royal Oak High School

Surprise Me

America and the Fourth of July

Here is an essay for reasoning behind why Americans should think of the people that have progressed America forward and have supported it for the future.

Blank Screen

USWNT resources for girls youth soccer (they use phones) as resources (for the club) lessen + recruitment occurs it happens electronically. A difference in teams + resources or recruitment interest would result in a lack of electronic communication.

We Shouldn't Hide Our Feelings

I believe you shouldn't hide or bottle up your feelings.

I Believe

This is about why it's always best to stay kind.

Anyone Can Find Potential

In our class we had to express our beliefs or belief in an I Believe essay. My belief was that I believe anyone can achieve what they put their minds to. This partly explains the American creed in my eyes, the ability to dream anything and make it a reality.

Immigration Travel Processes

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American Values

My essay is argues that american values can never be the same for all american citizens. In this essay I look at why these values become so diverse and how that plays a role in our country.

Preserving Family Culture

Preserving family culture is essential to my American Creed. Remembering and acknowledged our family's history helps increase the diversity in America, which is beautiful and unique.

American Privilege

Traveling around the world has given perspective on what it is like to be American and how fortunate we are to be an American citizen.

Attitudes and Success in Life

This is about how a good attitude affects your successes in life.

The Rich Man's Burden (satire)

My piece is a satire that details the inequity in educational opportunity in America.

Patriotism in our Country

My piece is about how I believe the most patriotic thing you can do is recognize the problems with your country and try to fix them.

More responses from Michigan

Surprise Me

Expressing your American Creed

This piece is about how you can express your American Creed. It shows the many aspects to American creed, such as why people chase their American, the fact that everyone chases one, and the three major aspects to American Creed.

Was Every Man "Created Equal" ?

The Declaration of Independence says that "all Men are created equal". Looking at the treatment of minorities during and after of which it was written, that statement says otherwise.

What Does it Mean to be Me? { An True American}

My poem is a letter to you all. Althoug it's pretty short it touches on several things in america. I used Repition in this poem because the rhyme and rhythm is important to me. I just think you'll feel it relatable and etc. I hope you enjoy!

Past and Present: A Family's American Creed

This short story is about how a family's decisions in the past has shaped the present generations-- and how it's connected to America's changes through time.

Are We TRULY Equal ?

The American Flag symbolizes our nations strength and unity, but we still tend to judge by sight instead of knowledge.

Inequality in American Education

In this article I discuss inequalities that plague American education.

One Step Closer

As a second generation Indian immigrant in America, the push and pull of cultures has both defined and created conflict in my identity. My American Creed is about accepting all parts of myself and expanding that idea of celebrating diversity to the larger society.

My Great Grandparents Journey

My grandparents made a great journey to the U.S. to better their lives.

The Immigrant Dream

Immigration has been an integral part of american history since its conception. Although immigration has taken many forms immigrants have always had the same goal, to seize opportunities in order to lead a better life and fulfill their american dream.

The Creed

My piece is about many different topics about the American Creed. First, I talk about the history and how the American Creed was created. Then, I talk about American. Finally, I state my personal opinion about America and how I feel about being an American.

How the American Creed has Affected my Family.

My grandparents came from Russia in search of a better life for their family. They came to America to achieve freedom and follow the American Dream. Throughout their experience they have developed their own American Creed and now I have started to develop one as well.

"Amazing" America

Is America really "America"? The land of the "free". I wrote an essay on how people think how America is so great when its not very perfect here either. We have our pros and cons but we are not the glory perfect land that people think we are.

More responses about "patriotism", "responsibilty ", and "service"

Surprise Me

America the Beautiful

“America the Beautiful”...this song is one of if not the most patriotic songs held by this great nation, but what is it that makes this nation so great?

My American Creed

My American Creed was done via Minecraft. To be an American means to have freedom, responsibility, and a dream.

American Creed by Austin Tremblay

For almost as long as the United States has existed, the American flag has stood as a symbol of the values that its people hold dear. Of these, patriotism, freedom, and opportunity stand out the most to me.

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It is about how my community, family, and I help the community and how we help others and how I think we can help those who are in need.

American Creed

Expressing American creed through showing pride and thanks to all those who serve in the Military.

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Views of Rushmore

This image showcases the different views of the American creed and the difference between how diverse and non-diverse Americans see it.

American Creed Southern Style

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Understanding the American Creed

Four people from the interview are compared in order to understand their ideals that are present in the American Creed.

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Noticing the little things can become a big thing, and may save a person or an animal's life. Plastic pollution and depression in the United States are growing problems; organizations that are willing to try to make a difference deserve recognition.

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My American Creed

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My American Creed

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The media tends to focus on the negative actions of the people who protect the citizens of The United States and their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This video will highlight the sacrifices they have made for our safety.

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My American Creed

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I talk about what I think it means to be America.

Shattered Glass

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For my project I drew an American flag and drew the symbols that I believe America stands for: freedom, faith, peace, outgoing, strength, equality, competitive, diversity, justice, and love. America to me is strength and freedom. What does America mean to you?

On Military Service & Success

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American Mentor

I chose an image of Oprah to represent the American Creed because she has been a very impactful person on America. The words I used were, Freedom, Equality, Service and Diversity.

Writing Our Future: American Creed is part of the National Writing Project’s family of youth publishing projects, all gathered under the Writing Our Future initiative.

Writing Our Future projects are designed by educators for educators and the young people they work with. Intended for use in schools, libraries, and other educational settings. All projects are COPPA compliant and educator-managed. NWP is committed to supporting young people’s writing and civic participation by providing a safe and supportive environment for youth writing, media creation, sharing, and publishing.