My name is Kalie Broughton. I am 15 years old and I attend Tokay High School.

Because of the horrible events that took place Sept. 11, my thoughts have been going in many directions. I feel sorrow for those who have lost loved ones and for our nation as a whole. One doesn’t explain these kinds of things away easily.

I am concerned now about the war that we will be waging. Please don’t get me wrong, I believe we should fight this monster of terrorism. My concern is for the men, women and children who will be involved in that war.

I have three older brothers. Their ages are 20, 19, and 17. Will they be called up to fight? I know that they would answer the call should it come to them.

The point that I’m trying to make is that while I don’t live in New York and I didn’t lose any loved ones in the attack, it now comes close to home when I think of my brothers going off to war. What kinds of thoughts and feelings would go through their minds?

Though my brothers and I are young, we do care about what happens to our country. We would do whatever is necessary to protect our God-given freedom. There is good and there is evil, and terrorism is evil. We must fight to get rid of it.

I feel really blessed to live in this country. Having so many freedoms and not ever having to fight to protect those freedoms, it is easy to take it all for granted. I need to take a good hard look at myself and show gratitude through patriotism and by helping others around me.

One of our strongest assets as a nation is our unity and power to pull through anything. May we all answer the call and strive to protect the freedoms that living in this country brings.

Kalie Broughton Lodi

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