THE SHADOW PATRIOTS
by Tristan McDonald

Over the duration of America's history, many men of stature and renown have risen up to lead this country both through peace and war, and through prosperity and depression. They, in turn, were unanimously supported by multitudes of men and women who gave of their time and energy by joining the military or the Red Cross. As the decades and centuries marched by, these people earned the title of"patriot" with their blood and sweat, as well as by their tears and toil. Their actions and accomplishments have been branded into the American consciousness, for we remember and honor them to this very day. However, while America's bravest leaders and soldiers are regularly honored and remembered by scores of citizens nationwide, many others who had a direct and beneficial influence on their lives are relegated to the realms of forgetfulness. These "shadow patriots" played an integral role in directing the well-known patriots along the road to greatness through service to our country.

The first shadow patriot that is necessary for successful patriotism is the parent. As you are growing up, it is your parents who instill you with your moral and ethical values. As you spend time with them, you begin to emulate them to some degree. Their mannerisms become your mannerisms, and their priorities become your priorities. It is obvious, then, that a special kind of parent is required to raise a child into a soldier or political leader. These parents must instill their child with a sense of duty and fairness, as well as a deep love both for their country and for their fellow man, from an early age.

Assisting the parent in this noble endeavor is the teacher, another shadow patriot. The teacher reinforces everything the parent has taught the child in a more structured environment. Respect for one's country is taught through readings and lectures, as opposed to the teaching-byexample that occurs at the home. The teacher can quite possibly become the most memorablecinfluence on a patriot, for his or her influence is the most up-front and direct.

The final group of people that influences a patriot's life is his peers. Of all the groups, peers are the most influential. The changes they cause are so gradual as to hardly be noticed, yet they are generally the most powerful and far-reaching. Bad company corrupts good character, and vice versa. In the patriot's case, he probably found himself hanging around with people with high morals and good character, whether deliberately or by accident. These friends in turn passed on their values and morals to our patriot, who proceeded to affect his country in a magnificent way.

As you can see, there is much more to a patriot than meets the eye. While the whole is still greater than the sum of its parts, those parts are instrumental in forming the patriots that stand before your mind's eye on such occasions as Memorial Day or the anniversary of September 1 1 th. So when you next think of a patriot, and the wonderful things he did for you and your country, take a few moments and reflect on all the people who influenced him and made him into what he is today.

Tristan McDonald, of Toledo OH, is a PeprallyUSA.com 2003 Essay Contest Semi-Finalist

Tristan McDonald's Biography, by Tristan McDonald.

I was born in Toledo, Ohio. My family consists of six people: my parents, me, two sisters, and a brother, and me. I've attended Emmanuel Baptist Christian School all my life and will be graduating from there as Valedictorian in June, 2003. While there, I played Soccer, Track, and Cross Country and was voted into the Student Council twice. I am a member of the National Honors Society.

Outside of school, I enjoy reading, writing, drawing, programming, and playing games, not to mention juggling and unicycling. I hope to go to the University of Chicago in the fall to study mathematics and computer science.

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