Kara Cares About: Family

2005-02-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Kara Cares About: Science

2005-02-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Kara Cares About: The Arts

2005-02-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah was an autobiobraphy.

Kara Cares About: America

2005-02-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

LET FREEDOM RING

By Kara

I was only nine,
when I went to ring that great big bell,
not sure of what it was or represented.
I learned a lot of what it represents,
before I went that day.

Years ago our Founding Fathers,
signed The Declaration of Independence,
that is now what our country is based on.
People fought to make us free,
they worked so hard and made the United States one.

We had the opportunity to ring the bell,
as descendants of Benjamin Franklin.
And on that day so many people were there,
of all different cultures coming together as one,
which is what America is all about.
All to see the Liberty Bell be rung and practice our freedoms.

It was hot in that heavy skirt and jacket,
I could almost smell and taste the humidity.
At first the flags came out,
and I felt like no one had ever been so proud to be an American.

Before we rang the bell people talked,
and it seemed it would never end, and now it’s so long ago.
When it was time we walked that long walk to the bell,
feeling excited and nervous all at the same time.
Our stomachs feeling like we were in line waiting to ride a roller coaster.

My sister, two other girls and I lined up around the bell,
waiting for the man to cue us to tap the bell.
News stations were all around and people taking pictures.
And when the time came all four shaky, gloved hands were raised
to tap the hard, glorious bell thirteen times.

As our hands tapped the bell,
you could hear bells chiming in the distance
like angels announcing their arrival.
As I heard the bells so loud I knew the reason I was there,
to remember all those who sacrificed for our freedom,
and I knew that I would never forget that day.

Afterwards news stations were asking questions,
and me, too overwhelmed and nervous to know how to answer them.
I did know one thing for sure after that day,
I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!