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Victoria Bracey wins Army Heritage Month Essay Contest
Victoria Bracey, an 8th grader at Vicenza Middle School, and winner of the “What Heritage Month Means to Me” essay contest, received recognition, an award, and gift basket during the Army Heritage Month Luncheon at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, May 25, 2023.
What Army Heritage Means to Me
Army Heritage Winning Essay by Victoria Bracey, Grade 8 ,Vicenza Middle School
When I talked to my dad about how to write this essay, we first had to figure out
what the Army Heritage month even is. Talking with him, he helped me come to the
realization that, whether you're an active duty soldier, a spouse, or a child, as long as
you have a connection to the military you are serving. Army Heritage month was made
to support and recognize diversity, and to promote teamwork and esprit de corps, which
means being proud to serve. Even for those who don't have a family to come home to,
being in the military means that you have a family in your co-workers, neighbors, and
anyone who carries a military connection.
Sometimes, I don't quite feel like a military kid. I know my dad is a military
veteran, I know people who serve, but I've never actually been that active in a military
community. It was only three years ago, when I came to Italy, that I started to realize
and appreciate the sense of community that belonging to a military family entails. Even
though I was born in a military hospital in the United States, I lived in Germany for eight
years which made it feel like home to me. Most military kids move around a lot,
experiencing different cultures, finding new friends, but they also have to leave their old
home behind and start again.
Sometimes I feel like an outsider, living in two different worlds. But every time
that thought crosses my mind, I remember all of the good memories I've made here and
I am reminded that I do belong here. I get to see everyone move on with their lives,
wondering if they will remember their time here. I think I am only now starting to realize
what Army heritage means to me. It means becoming more involved in my community,
making others feel welcome, and being proud to belong to the military family. Waking up
every day to find new opportunities and make the most of what I have. And even if I
don't always feel like I am a military kid, I hope that I can learn what it means to be one
and maybe one day be worthy of that title.
There is a special connection between those in the military. Even those who
haven't worn a uniform can feel a special sense of pride in being connected to the
military. Every single one of us is serving in their own way. We all come from different
walks of life, have had different experiences that shaped us and made us who we are
today. Being part of the military community is something to be proud of. I know I am.
Even when I go out to find my own adventure, like so many have before me, I will
always remember and cherish the life I've had living in a military community.
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