Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-03-26
What An American Owes To His
Country and Why

proud and Justly so, OF our great and
free country which stands among tie
foremost nations OF the world. we
point with pride to our great cities
railroad systems, manufacturing III,
dustries, agricultural development ana
wealth America is truly The Iand OF
Opportunity" where each citizen mas
equal rights to success.
Yes, we are proud OF our country
with its freedom and opportunities
but let us not forget that 1t IS ours
through the sacrifice and suffering, the
sweat and blood of the past genera
tions How can we repay the heroes
of the past for what they have achleV-
ed in making America glorious home
for mankind? They have gone to their
rest if is true, but do we OF today
not owe them something? Yes, we
owe il TO them to ENTER into their
1abors" TO build splend'dly on the foun
dation they have laid. The Master SAD
that the blood OF all the righteous OF
former years would be requir6I OF HIS
generations 1t is true OF the present
generation For any man to live IN
America and enjoy the freedom and
opportunities it has to offer, and does
not make his best contribution to 1t,
constitutes him pauper fed out OF the
largeness of his country.
What the American citizen today
owes his country can not be measured
in dollars and cents. His environment
in civilization of wealth, culture and
wealth has done so much for HIM that
the debt is all against him. There is
only one way to discharge the debt He
must be a stalwart citizen, an unselt-
ish servant of men or he is living on
the sacrifice of our forefathers.
Americas greatest need is high
type of citizenship. The American
citizen owes it to his country to strive
to become strong and serviceable
citizen of America, that America III
turn NAV make her noblcst contrlbu-
tions to the welfare of the world. Ser
vice is the only coin in which he can
pay his debt He can pay his debt only
bv the fulfiIlment of the loftiest hopes
Of the best men who have planned our
great country. The debt OF final graf
itude is paid in the coin OF lofty liv-
ing or it is unpaid forever.
The American citizen owes 1t to his
country to strive to be the best poss-
ible citizen of America because Amer
lea has given to him land OF tree
dom and opportunity in which to live.
To be the best possible citizen OF Am
erica he has duties to perform as toll
lows:
|. To strive to become himself;
noble, an unselfish, pure, big, gen
erous, loving man taking a high place
in the field of unselfish service. he
should have a religion that satisfies
the soul, for without Christian citizens
all that our God fearing forefathers
fought and died for is doomed. He
should educate himself, as far as he
is able, for the best citizen must be
intelligent to perform, to best advant-
age, the duties of citizenship.
His second duty as a citizen
is to his home. He should see to it,
as far as he is able, that his home is
a shining light to the community III
which he lives. A home in which high
ideals of character and citizenship are
lived by the parents, and taught to the
little ones that they may also become
useful citizens of America The home
environment of the young lite OF Amer
lea is every day making or marring
Americas future; for it molds the
citizen should strive to rear refined
Christian family because it is the only
means by which he can give to the
future generations what has been CIV
en- to him by the past generations.
IRIS third duty as a citizen is to
strive TO make the community in winch
he ives the most desirable community
= in which to rear a refined Christ'an
fa-,,;I, because it means that he must
cooperate with his neighbors III sup
porting the church, school and al! 9TH
er institutions which are essentiai 10
the welfare of the community ne
should not neglect to take an actlVe
mart in the work OF the church, ouil-
dav school, patriotic societies, etc, Tor
in so doing he is helping to perpetu-
ate the ideals of our forefathers.
4. The citizens fourth duty is 10
America at large. He should be pa
triotic American. Patriotism has peen
defined as: THE love of country, ana
LOYALTY to its life and wealth love
tender and strong, tender as the love
of son for mother, strong as the
ni1lars of death; loyalty generous and
d;s;nterested, shrinking from no sacrl-
flee seeking no reward save the coun.
trv's honor and countrys triumph:
The patriotic American has IN ms
heart a genuine love for America: "A
love so strong that he would consider
# a privilege if necessary, to de foT
its cause; love that causes his blood
to be stirred at the thought OF the an
them:
NV country It's OF thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,
OF thee l sing!
Long may our land be bright,
With freedoms holy light,
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King!
The patriotic American sees to IT.
nc far as he is able, that only clean
God fearing men who have tneli
conntrv's welfare at heart are elected
70 office. Under no conditions does ne
NEGLECT to cast his vote at eiectioh
time not being influenced by, selfish
motives. but working for the best IN
terest of all. :. @ bic
The American citizen owes 1t to his
country to strive to become strong
and serviceable citizen of America De,
c.ree America has given to him a lanu