Katie
Lucas, Rosemont School
I interviewed my Grandpa and wrote down what he said, He loves
living in this country with the colors blue, white, and red.
He says being an American means living the way you want to.
And better opportunities when you decide to do something new.
He says the great thing about America is the beautiful scenery
you see, also wonderful nature, like a beautiful blue bird calling
out from a tree. Out of love for this country he fought in World
War II. He wanted to heal the country and let liberty shine
through. He thinks the most interesting point in history would
be, when it all began, when our country first was free. My grandfather
loves this country just the same as me, if you want success
and freedom, America is the place to be.
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Sarah
Brokaw, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
Citizenship According to My Dad
I interviewed my Dad for this activity. My Dad thinks being
a good citizen means obeying the responsibilities of being in
this country, attending elections, recycling, and using farming
practices to help the environment, and treating other people
the way you want to be treated. Say and act how it makes them
feel. Some of the things my Dad has done to be a good citizen
are, being on the church and cemetery board, being a member
of the Old Tymers in Henderson County, and being a member of
the library board. If laws pertain to him, he follows them.
He likes to stop if someone is stopped along the road or any
other time someone is having trouble, even if you take the risk,
and he has never missed and election.
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John
Buss, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
"Citizenship is important in your family, government and community,"
my mother said. "Everyone in our family needs to practice citizenship
so the family can operate as a unit. Individual goals and ambitions
are important, but not at the expense of the entire family."
We discussed voting because of the upcoming election. "People
in many countries don't have a chance to vote," mom said. Most
decisions and contested races on the ballot are decided by a
minority of citizens eligible to vote.
A community depends on the people living in it. People caring
about their neighbors and sharing, help the whole community.
After my discussion with my mother, I learned that citizenship
means sharing with others and becoming involved with people
around me. As a young adult, I can show citizenship in many
ways. Helping at home, in the community, and voting when I am
eighteen can make a difference.
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Katie
Cooper, Rosemont School
A Very Wonderful Person
I know a very wonderful person, my mom. The other night I was
interviewing my mom and she told me how she and my dad took
care of three hundred babies in the last twenty-three years.
Some of the babies she took care of were drug babies.
Drug babies are babies of mothers who took drugs while the babies
were still inside her. Some were on monitors to see how their
conditions were doing, and some were even sick so she rushed
them to the doctors. Out of three hundred babies, my mom adopted
eight. She and my dad are going to adopt two more. I know what
wonderful people they are because I was one of those babies
they adopted.
Top
Kelly
Olson, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
People and Their Communities
Citizenship is helping your community and being nice to it.
You can help by cleaning, volunteering, and taking care of the
community. You can paint over graffiti, pull weeds, and clean
and fix up old abandoned houses or buildings that could be used
as gang hangouts, or crack houses. We need to get rid of gangs,
because they're the one who destroy our community. Think about
it. They write the graffiti over our schools, homes, garages,
and viaducts. If our community gets really bad, I think the
gang members should clean what they destroyed.
Also you can help the people in your community, like the elderly
people. A lot of elderly people can't do very much. You can
volunteer to cut their grass or clean their house. Elderly people
don't realize their are nice teenagers like me. The Youth Group
help around the church. More people should join Youth Group
not gangs! So people do something good for yourself.
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Jacqueline
Stephens, Rosemont School
I enjoyed talking with my father about my family's history.
We discussed my grandfather's accomplishments. I learned that
my grandfather was one of the original incorporators of Rosemont,
my hometown. Rosemont was established in 1956, and my grandfather
has served as its only mayor since that time. He has committed
forty years of his life to making Rosemont a great place to
live. Rosemont was primarily farmland when my grandfather first
moved here. The school contained two rooms and two teachers.
The area has few homes, no paved streets, and only well-water.
My grandfather decided to establish Rosemont because he wanted
to improve the lives of the people in the area. While our community
is small, we have a great school, one of the nation's largest
exposition centers, and two excellent entertainment facilities.
My grandfather is an outstanding citizen, and I hope to be as
successful as he is.
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Laura
Partipilo, Rosemont School
This is about my family's history and what they were thinking.
I know we are poor. But we still tried hard. Then there was
a place new.
It was called America. When we got there, we thought it would
be hard. Then, we got jobs at factories and railroad yards.
I miss Italy speaking of me, but it will stay in my heart forever
to be.
I wish my friends were with me today. Laughing and talking all
through the day. Everything got better, like I thought it would
be. America is truly the land of the free.
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Carrisa
O. Flores, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship is. . . .
Citizenship is doing right and keeping duties. Everyone in the
world does it, if you know it, or not. Volunteer work is an
example and keeping the earth cleansed and unpolluted is another.
We could all help and participate in this affair. We all want
the new generation to have a better life than we are now. We
want them to keep certain duties, rights, and other important
deeds that our parents follow, and acknowledge us to follow
them.
We can reach this goal by working hard. We can show the children
of this generation to keep the world cleansed, follow all rights
that the President, Mayor and all important people of the government
give us citizens, and go against all the uncalled violence in
this world. This should be our goal, and we should work very
hard to succeed.
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Gullen
Goodman, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
Street Interview With Dad
As I was running on my feet, I met my dad in the street. I told
him he jogs like a bunny, but he didn't think that was funny.
Now time for the story.
I met my dad jogging in the road on his way home, when I was
going to my friend's house. When we were going home, I thought
of my homework that I had to do.
I asked him what citizenship meant to him. He said, "Citizenship"
means, being a member of a nation and giving your allegiance
to your country. Citizenship also means having pride in our
nation. We should all have pride and stand up for our country.
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Frank
Hodal, Rosemont School
I talked to my dad about American history and he shared many
interesting opinions. My dad's favorite president is George
Washington, because he was a wise and great leader who set the
tone and guidelines for not only our presidents, but also our
foreign policy and national heritage.
Because of the Industrial Revolution, American's freedom allowed
great advancements in our wealth and standard of living. The
middle class of the U.S.A. has achieved what no other society
has achieved in so short a time, between 1800-1850.
Also between 1912-1940, the U.S. was transformed from a small
federal government into what became a total government, involved
in every facet of American life. Amendments to the constitution
and Supreme Court decision allowed the executive branch to control
American life and American business.
My great grandfather arrived here in 1909, 15 years old. He
found work on a railroad crew in the Dakotas. He experienced
unbearable heat and the great colds in the winter of the plains.
That is how my dads thoughts on some American history.
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Catherine
Ceko, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship
Citizenship is about being responsible. Citizens have many responsibilities.
One of the responsibilities of being a citizen is voting. As
a voter, you must make a choice. You must decide who you want
to represent you. Who do you think is the best person to represent
you? That is the type of question you should ask yourself when
voting.
Another responsibility as a citizen is upholding the law. It
is extremely important to follow the rules and regulations in
our society. What do you think the world would be like if none
of the citizens in your community followed and obeyed the law?
I think it would be chaotic! The whole world would fall apart!
That is why it is so important to follow rules. These are all
responsibilities that come with being a citizen. So in conclusion,
I believe that citizenship is responsibility.
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Patricia
Balogh, Rosemont School
The Mitchell Family
You won't believe how much great information I found out about
my uncle's family tree when I asked him!
To start, almost all of his ancestors were slaves. It began
a long time ago when men searched in Africa for people to work
for free labor. After they were caught, they were split from
their tribes and took to countries and sold! The blacks that
survived the journey across the waters became slaves and some
had children by their owners.
The master, Massa Mitchell, was strongly against darker blacks.
Soon after that, Billie, Massa's half son, married an Indian
girl named Philadelphia. Once the slaves were freed, they took
their owner's name. This is where the Mitchell family got started,
with Billie and Philadelphia.
To this day blacks aren't treated equal. I'm just glad that
my uncle didn't have to go through being a slave because he
means a lot to me.
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Jess
Bond, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship means different things to different people. This
is what it means to Denny Hilligoss. Denny served four years
in the Navy, in the Vietnam War. He is now a family man with
a wife and two children. He is the manager of a grocery store
in Roseville, Illinois. Since Denny is in the public eye, he
feels Citizenship is very important to practice. The following
acronym tells his feelings for the meaning of CITIZENSHIP.
Courage Integrity Taxpayer Important Zeal Election Noble Service
to the community Honesty Inhabitant of city and state Privilege
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Ashlie
Cargill, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
Treating others like you would want to be treated is one part
of citizenship. Being honest, doing your share in your community
and voting are also part of citizenship. These are some of the
things that the person I interviewed thought it meant. She was
right but there are also many other things you can do to have
good citizenship. The first three people I asked didn't really
know what it meant. Most people don't treat everyone as good
as they should treat them, and most people don't do a whole
lot for the community. I think that citizenship is very important,
and most people don't have a lot of it. More people should think
about the real meaning and do nicer and better things.
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Anna
Clifton, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
Clues for my mother is citizenship, roll models for others,
leadership, helping someone out, not roaming about, don't put
in a cork, do community work, helpful member of the community
and country, doing activities in the community, going to church
outings.
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Rachael
Weil, Rosemont School
My family came to America from Germany. They came from Germany
because they didn't want to deal with oppression. My great-great-grandfather
jumped off the boat that my family took to America. And swan
the rest of the way. He did that because he didn't want to be
forced into the German Army and he was very frightened that
they wouldn't let him in America. He ended up sneaking into
the country. Out of all my relatives, he was the only brave
one to do it. My great-great-grandma got worried that he wouldn't
make it, but, luckily he did. That's how our family got to America.
And how my great-great-grandfather got to America.
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Andrea
Fonseca, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Celebrate America: Citizenship Is. . . .
A citizen is a person who is born in a country or who chooses
to become a member of a country by law, and who owns allegiance
to and has rights and privileges recognized by its government.
A citizen is also a permanent resident especially of a city
or town.
As we all know, every immigrant wants to become a citizen. By
law, everyone who is born in America becomes a citizen automatically.
But what happens to those who are illegal immigrants? They want
to become citizens also. They want to have rights, to vote,
and to be free from discrimination. Can they be discrimination-free?
Who will guarantee them a non-discriminating life? Who can they
turn to if someone makes a racial comment against them?
If the United States really is a "Melting Pot," why do so many
people fight because of the color of their skin? If everyone
here became a citizen right now, would that stop people from
hating each other? No, I don't think that is what citizenship
is all about. WE need to stop racism. Citizenship can't!
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Linnea
Johnson, Rosemont School
In 1954 when my dad was just a child, he and his family immigrated
to America from Sweden. He spent eight days on a boat with his
mom, dad, sister Violet, and brother Leonard.
When they got off the boat they were in Ellis Island. While
they were in Ellis Island, they had their last name Sunberg
changed to Johnson. Johnson came from a poster which was an
American boxer. I guess what happened was that someone thought
it would be better if we had an American last name.
After Ellis Island, my dad and his family went to Chicago. They
were very lucky because they knew an uncle of theirs who was
already living here so he found them a house and my grandpa
a job by the time they were here in America.
For my dad, America was very confusing because he didn't speak
the language and he didn't know the American's way of life.
Many years later he understood America and what it offered.
America offered freedom and liberty as well as a better future
like education and jobs for himself and his children.
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Nick
Marnos, Rosemont School
My father told me that his parents came to America during the
1900's from and island in Greece called Chios. They didn't speak
English, and finding work was very difficult. My grandfather
was a very proud many and didn't like being on welfare, so whenever
a job was posted he would go after it. This meant that the family
was on the move from state to state until my grandfather found
a job with a steel mill in Pennsylvania.
He was doing fine until the Depression of the 1930's took hold.
It was during this time that my grandfather lost the house they
were living in due to the fact that he had no paycheck coming
in. This made for difficult times. My father's sister attended
thirteen different schools because my grandfather would go anywhere
he thought he could find employment. My grandfather and his
brother Nick opened a bakery together in Monesson, PA., but
they had to close the bakery because they weren't making enough
money to pay the bills.
It wasn't until my grandfather was given a job in Chicago that
things started to get better, but only a little. So many years
went by when times were tough that they lived from paycheck
to paycheck until my aunt and uncle were able to earn a salary
to help my grandmother and grandfather. I'm very proud of my
hardworking family.
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Beatriz
Miramontes, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship
Citizenship is the rights and responsibilities of a person.
Citizens have a right to vote, the right of freedom, and the
right of free speech. Citizens are also expected to obey laws,
serve on juries, help in their communities, and perform other
duties.
Citizenship is when you volunteer to help others. Another way
you can help is you can clean up your community, or start a
clean-up week in your community. Ask shelters if you can help
with anything.
I think citizenship really is when you have the right to do
almost anything you want to do, but you do have to follow laws.
I think when you obey the laws and help out your community,
your really showing good citizenship. That's what I think citizenship
is.
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Angelica
Moreno, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship
Citizenship means to help your community in different ways.
For instance, you could help your community by cleaning up where
you live. If your neighborhood is all dirty nobody is going
to want to live in it. If you don't want to go around the streets
and picking up all the garbage, you could help by not littering.
Another way you could help is by law-abiding. For example, pay
attention to stop signs, stop lights, or any other kinds of
signs. Also, do not drink and drive because you don't only put
your life in danger, but you are also putting other peoples
lives in danger.
The last thing you could to help is by doing volunteer work.
You could help kids that are in gangs or do drugs, or you could
help by giving food to homeless people. Whatever you do it makes
a big difference in your neighborhood. So start helping out.
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Jamie
Richard, Southern Junior High, Media, IL
"Hi mom. I'm home from school," thirteen year old Monica said.
"Our teacher wants us to ask someone from another generation
some questions and then write an essay on it. Can I ask you
mom?"
"Sure dear. What are the questions?"
"Well, what does citizenship mean to you?"
"Citizenship means having the privileges of the Constitution
which are freedom of religion, education, and speech."
"Okay, how do you think we can be better citizens?"
"We could get more involved in town and school programs. We
could also take better care of the environment."
"The last question is what are some things you dislike about
citizenship?"
"I dislike certain laws such as being required to wear your
seat belt. I think it should be your choice. Is that all Monica?"
"Yeah, thanks mom for your help."
"No problem. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"No."
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Jessica
Rivera, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship
Citizenship is being good to others and to yourself. It is also
respecting each other. Many people do drugs and harm themselves.
They offer drugs to others, and get them hooked on drugs too.
This must be stopped.
Violence is causing many problems. A lot of people are in gangs,
especially young people. More and more teenagers are being pulled
toward this. They are killing many people and they should not
continue.
All citizens should be concerned with the world. There are many
things we can do to change situations. We can start by not polluting
the air and destroying the O-Zone layer. We can recycle. Recycling
is not very hard, you just put all your plastics and other recycling
material into a blue bag and throw it out with your regular
trash. By doing this you can help a lot. Volunteering is also
very good.
Citizenship is not just being an American, we all have certain
obligations to make our world better.
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Daisy
Sanchez, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
What a Citizen Has To Do and It's Responsibilities.
Citizenship is the rights and duties of a person. I think citizenship
is the way a person cares, helps, or the way a person can make
a difference in a neighborhood or where they live.
Citizenship is the rights and duties of a person. My personal
opinion is that everybody has the right to vote, freedom of
speech, and freedom of doing things their way as long they do
not hurt anybody. A good citizen can help out by cleaning the
garbage out of public areas, but not only himself but with people
who are good citizens as well.
There are good citizens out there that need help, like veterans,
they served their nation by going to war but they might have
been hurt in the war.
I know many ways a person can be a good citizen, but it takes
a person of great will and good heart to do something, that
may not be important to you but to somebody else.
My responsibilities of a citizen are to listen to all the laws
in which I have to follow, clean, and do not disturb others.
"My closing statement is being a citizen is a great thing to
be!"
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Erika
Siguenza, Rosemont School
I had a talk with my mom. She's an ordinary mom. I will tell
you about a part of the interview I really liked. Finding a
job is not easy if you don't know English. You walk in, you're
interviewed and your out. Why? That's what people would like
to know. You don't know how to speak English. Some people get
so rude and they treat you different. You have to look for it
for at least two months. You have to pick jobs like washing
cars, serving and others until you get a decent job. My mom
said if you want something you have to work at it and try your
best. For a second, put yourself in her shoes, walking from
door to door asking for a job. So my mom tried hard, and went
to school to learn English. I really admire my mom for being
a hard worker.
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Clarisse
Tripoli, Rosemont School
It was in 1950 when my grandpa Joe went to fight in the Korean
War. In Hungnan, my grandpa helped build a supply route so the
trucks didn't get ambushed in the mud. He was the leader of
the 13th Engineer Combat Battalion. He led the soldiers with
his own personalized name on his truck. Then at Triangle Hill
my grandpa and a bunch of soldiers ate together. Then my grandpa
got shot three times in the lower part of his back. He told
me when he got shot it felt like someone hit him really hard
three times with a metal heavy shovel. When the other soldiers
noticed that the was shot, he was taken by a helicopter to the
nearest M.A.S.H. Station. While there, the doctors took out
the bullets. But the excess pieces of metal were still in his
skin. And this is what my grandpa did in the war.
Top
Jack
Tripoli, Rosemont School
My Grandpa
One major event in United States history was the Korean War.
This terrifying was started in 1950, when North Korea invaded
South Korea. The South Koreans pleaded for help. The United
States was proud to help along with my grandpa Joseph Desimone.
He was a fighter for the United States. The United States Army
went to Korea to help the south Koreans as soon as possible.
Then the terrifying was began. My grandpa got shot after a while
of fighting, but he didn't die. He was hospitalized for weeks.
My grandpa told me that the hospital food was horrible. He also
told me they fed him spam and much more.
After a few weeks he got his endurance back so he could fight
again. My grandpa rescued many soldiers from death. He also
gave up his supplies to other soldiers. Many people died in
this tragic war, but my grandpa survived. He came home from
the war and married my grandmother, Marge Desimone. My grandpa
is a true hero.
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Alfredo
Valdivia, Gallistel Language Academy Branch Chicago
Citizenship is. . .
Citizenship is the rights and duties as a person living in the
United States. I as a 13 year old boy, think that if every true
citizen would recycle, the world would be a better place, the
reason for that is because the O-Zone layer is depleting. Trees
would not have to be cut down if every true citizen recycled
paper. For me a true citizen means a person who does not liter,
but cleans so that the government would not have to spend millions
of dollars, to clean the salt water in the world. Also a citizen
should never join a gang. A citizen should destroy gangs and
also the same thing with drugs that destroy the environment.
A true citizen for me is a person who helps the environment
and surroundings to stay clean.
Top
Neal
Wagner, Rosemont School
How I Interviewed My Mom.
Her grandpa and grandpa came here in 1942 from Ireland. Her
grandma was supposed to have came to America before World War
II, but all her documents got lost and they didn't get reissued
until after the war. She had an older brother and sister in
New York, and an older brother and sister in Chicago. Her brothers
and sisters wrote home saying how good it was in America.
Her grandma had grown up in a two room farmhouse in Ireland
with 12 kids in her family and they were poor. A short time
after grandma arrived in New York, grandpa came with a younger
brother. At that time grandma and grandpa were best friends.
Grandpa only came to New York because grandma was here. None
of her grandpa's family ever came to America. Grandma and grandpa
didn't like New York, so they continued on to Chicago. Grandpa
got a job as a house painter and grandma a maid. They got married
in 1950 and became U.S. Citizens.
That's how my family came to America.
