(Editor’s Note: At the St. Edward Memorial Day service Monday, fifth grader Kalli Carlson read the following school essay on the theme: “Proud to be an American.”)

“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”

I’ve always loved that verse from our National Anthem. It reminds me of all that I have that other people d…