VOLUI.'Z VI
HUMBHR 12
20 MARCH 1961
1st-day Of SPRING
In a recent issue of the Adak SUN it vas announced that Franklin W. CARTER,
HM1* U.S. Navy stationed at the Communications Station had vron a Gold Medal and
a $100 award for his submission- of a letter to the Freedoms Foundation at ValDejr
Forge on the subject ”My Vote: Freedom’s Privilege”* A copy of tha*b letter has
been received from the Freedoms Foundation and is published herein for the ben
efit of all personnel on Adak and future* aspirants to the Foundation’s letter
writing competition. '
MY VOTE: FREEDOM’S PRIVILEGE by HM1 Frank W. Carter
What spark ignites the fire of patriotism, that causes a man to love his
country and feel strongly about his privilege and responsibility of voting?
Love .of country.must be inspired by many complex reasons, but for me, the
greatest incentive is essentially simple: I grew up knowing and liking the'
.American way of life and I want to help preserve it-for myself .and all Americans,
for the children of this generation and the future.... .
As a boy in Missouri’s Ozark Hills, I watched the dawn of many, springs and
saw them drift into lazy summer days, ripen into red-gold autumns and fade into
winter. . .'-•••
Springtime always beckoned temptingly through schoolhouse windows and the
battle of .Bunker Hill suddenly seemed less important than the afternoon ball
game. Summer brought dreamy days of fishin’ and swimmin’, trees full of juicy
sun-warm fruit* Crisp: autumn brought the first frost and schooldays with fas
cinating things to learn that could widen a boy’s eyes with wonder and ambition.
Winter meant sleigh rides, presents for'- Christmas and long happy evenings with
family and friends,
Wealth?# Not much,•.just an abundance of food, enough’ clothing for ’’Sunday”
and ’’everyday”,.family, school, a sense of security, a growing awareness of the
responsibility and dignity c£ approaching manhood in a nation where each indiv
idual is recognized as a potential influence in his own community and national
government.
It*s such ...a simple story, repeated with minor variations in millions of Amer
ican homes’.. .'far too commonplace for real drama. I used to think it ■was basic
ally the way everyone in. the world grew up. ' ..
And then one day, half-way around the earth, I saw a hungry, half -clothed
child digging through .garbage for scraps of food. How can I put into words the
stomach-sickening, brain-numbing horror of a youngster competing v/ith rats for
castaway foodj ,t It was a shock that brought home., some brutal facts to me.
Hunger, pwerty, degradation, fear—these* are indeed the heritage of millions
of the world*s children. Many more, if not deprived physically, are starved in
spirit—fed only half-truths, denied the wisdom of their cwn worth as individual
human beings ‘‘Created by God wil inalienable rights of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness."
Recalling my own childhood in a land where faith in God, country, fellowman
and self is an accepted blessing. • .where freedom of choice- and freedom of enter
prise make any reasonable goal a potential one, I feel an overwhelming gratitude
and humility. These things were purchased for me with the hardships of pioneers
said the blood of freedom loving.men. . . A
I want to do what I can to further this.. American dream, for in all the history
of the world, no government has come so close to realizing the ideals of freedom
and dignity for so many* Vo a ing is an intrinsic part of this plan of .democracy.
And so I shall vote as intelligently as I am able. It-is Freedom^ responsibility^
It is Freedom’s Privilegei
-U3N