THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606210188
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 51 lines
The girl has style - and not just regarding her hair and clothes. Audra Little wrote an essay about patriotism that was stylish enough to win first place nationally.
In a contest sponsored by the Fleet Reserve Associations across America, Little, 15, wrote about the land that she loves.
Little is a rising sophomore at Ocean Lakes High School and she originally turned in a two-page paean to patriotism for an English class assignment. She called her essay ``Patriotism . . . To Me.''
``It started as a homework paper for Ms. (Nancy) Moskway,'' Little said.
What began as a routine exercise ended as a local, regional and national winner for the ninth-grade level. Little accepted a $500 bond from Kempsville Branch 99 of the Fleet Reserve Association at a ceremony this month. The association had collaborated with the Beach schools to sponsor the award. Another local essay, one by Natalie Diane Horne, 17, who will graduate in August from Kellam High School, also won on the regional level and was entered in the national competition, but did not win a prize.
Les Ferrell, president of the branch, presented the certificate and the bond to Little. ``It makes us really proud that the national winner came from right here at our association,'' Ferrell said. ``And it's always good to know that there are good kids out there. Kids who think of this country positively. We hear so much about the teenagers doing negative things. Here's one who's not.''
Little held the certificate and the bond in her hands as she offered a shy ``thanks'' to the association. Her father stood up to say a few words about his talented daughter.
``I want to thank you for giving this award to Audra,'' said Rick Little. ``I hope you won't hold it against me that I'm active-duty Army,'' he quipped to the assembled Navy veterans. ``And I'm glad you obviously didn't hold it against Audra.''
Little is a chief warrant officer stationed with a transportation outfit at Fort Story. Audra's mother, Debbie, is a teacher at Thalia Elementary School.
Audra used a series of antithetical comparisons to mount a stylish and moving case for national pride. She contrasted the attitudes of an ``average American'' to those of the ``true patriot.'' She wrote, ``To me, patriotism means standing proudly and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance'' even though some of her peers may think they are ``too cool'' for it and slouch while mumbling every other word or even just standing silently. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Audra Little and her parents, Rick and Debbie, check out the $500
bond from Kempsville Branch 99 of the Fleet Reserve Association. by CNB