The recent incident in Washington D.C., where pro-Hamas protesters burned the American flag and raised the Palestinian flag, has left me deeply disturbed and worried. I am appalled by their actions and troubled by the apparent lack of awareness among American youth.
While ignorance isn’t easily fixed, I believe that instilling a sense of gratitude for being American from a young age is crucial. One way to achieve this could be by renaming public elementary schools in honor of those who have sacrificed for our country, particularly those awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States, is awarded to armed forces members who have shown exceptional valor and bravery. This award has been given across numerous conflicts, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and more recent engagements like the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In these schools, plaques should prominently display the reasons for the recipient’s award, and, where possible, a bust of the recipient should be included. Before graduating, every student should know the complete story of their school’s namesake.
According to 2021 data, there are 67,408 public elementary schools in the United States. Ideally, schools should be renamed after Medal of Honor recipients who grew up nearby, making the honor more personal and significant for the local community.
The U.S. Department of Education’s budget for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $90 billion. Since its inception in 1979, the Department has received around $3.15 trillion. Given the perceived inefficiency of this spending, I propose reallocating a portion of the Department’s budget to fund the renaming of schools. This initiative would not only honor our heroes but also foster a deeper appreciation of our nation’s values among the youth.
#Education #Patriotism #MedalOfHonor