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Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the first item I bring up should be stated tomorrow, but tomorrow I am going to be busy in the Judiciary Committee, as chairman of that committee, so I have to present this a day early.

Fifty years ago, on June 18, 1976, as a Member of the House of Representatives, I submitted an essay by a student from Dike, IA, in celebration of America's 200th birthday. I am once again submitting work by a student from Iowa but this time in celebration of America's 250th birthday.

As we celebrate America's birthday this year, students all across the country are participating in a national writing and artwork contest, answering the prompt ``What does America mean to you?''

Mary Elouise, a fourth grader from Waukee, IA, was recently selected as a first-place winner for this contest. In Mary Elouise's first- place-winning poem submission, she wrote about the American flag, and she detailed in that poem how it represents America and her family's military service. She concluded her poem by saying:

I look at our flag and I proudly say, God bless the USA.

Mary Elouise also was recently recognized by the Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds for her second poem titled ``People Behind the Flag.'' This poem was submitted to Iowa's America 250 student writing contest on America's founding principles.

Semiquincentennial Commission student writing and art contest reflecting on what America means to her: Our flag flies high with freedom and pride, For all of the soldiers who stand side by side, Each stripe tells stories of courage so true, And stars shine bright for red, white, and blue. The red is their courage, the blood they gave, The white is for honor, the strong and the brave, The blue holds stars for each soul who serves, Protecting our freedom and all it preserves. My grandpa in Vietnam, my dad in Iraq, My brother in the Army, they've all had our back, I look at our flag and I proudly say, God bless the USA.

Mary Elouise from Waukee, Iowa, contest winning poem submission (titled, ``People Behind the Flag'') to the Iowa America 250 Student Contest: America is turning 250 years old, That's a really, really long time. My mom says it all started with courage, And that courage runs through my family line. A long time ago, in the Revolutionary War, Someone in my family stood up brave. They fought so we could be free today, So kids like me could laugh and wave. Then my Great-Grandpas went to World War Two, So far away from everyone. They missed their homes and wished for hugs, Until the hard days all were done. They helped the world when it was scared, They helped make things right again. Because of them, the flag still flies, For children now and children then. My Grandpa served in Vietnam, A place so far I cannot see. He carried courage in his heart, And brought it back to my family. My Dad went to Iraq to serve, Before I was even here. He helped protect tomorrow, So my today would have no fear. Now my big brother wears the uniform, And stands up tall and strong. Sometimes I worry, sometimes I pray, And I count the days he's gone. America is 250 years old, I'm only 10, but this I know: Freedom doesn't just happen--it's protected By families who love it so. When I see the flag wave in the sky, I don't just see red. white. and blue. I see Great-Grandpas, Grandpa, Dad, and brother, And a promise I will always honor too.

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