We would like to share something we received from two remarkable young men this month in honor of Independence Day. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Christopher and Tyler Du Pont are 11 year old twins from Northport, New York.  They have just graduated from 5th grade and will be attending middle school in the fall.  They are both straight A students and members of the Gifted and Talented Program.  They were chosen to be members of the Math Olympiad team and they participated in the Leadership Council at their elementary school.  They were both awarded Citizen of the Month by their Principal.

Christopher was awarded 1st and 2nd place in the school Science Fair in 2007 and 2008 and he was chosen to represent his elementary school in the Brookhaven National Science Fair.  Christopher enjoys playing football and lacrosse.  He received the award for offensive MVP for the 2008 Northport football season and is a member of the Northport Lacrosse Tournament Team.  He also enjoys playing electric guitar, snowboarding and the beach.

Tyler has received an “outstanding” rank (distinguished level of accomplishment) for 2 consecutive years for his NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) piano evaluation and plans to progress to level 3 of 6 next year.  He has performed for school talent shows and has also played the Grand Piano for hotel guests in Grand Cayman.  He was selected to represent his class on prize speaking night and has won 1st place in the literary poster contest.  Tyler has also been playing lacrosse for 5 years and will be playing tackle football in the fall.  His passions include playing the piano, skiing and the beach.
 

In preparation for the annual Bellerose Ave. Elementary School 5th grade field trip to Washington DC the class was given the assignment of writing essays on “What Freedom Means to Me” The boys wrote the following in honor of their uncle.

What Freedom Means to Me

To me freedom means that “…all men are created equal, and in that equal creation lays life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”  This means that I can live in any state that I want; I can express my thoughts and feelings in public and do so without fear of persecution and that I           am free to create my own road to success.  Can you imagine living in a place where you can’t do these things; or worse yet, being killed if you do.

Freedom isn’t free.  It comes with many costs and        sacrifices.  My Uncle Jim just returned home from his third tour in Iraq.  He is a Master Gunny Sergeant with the Marines and just spent the last year away from his family and friends.  He helped the Iraqis form a  better police force to protect their citizens from those who view freedom as a threat.  His most important job was to provide security for the vote so that the Iraqi people could democratically elect their officials peacefully.  It took a war for people to gain the right to vote in Iraq.  This is a freedom in America I won’t take for granted.  My grandpa also served in the military.  He was a major in the Army.  He also fought to protect people’s freedoms.

Because of the brave people like my uncle, grandpa and all of the veterans, I now have the freedom to go to school, practice whatever religion I want, follow my dreams, or even become President!

~ Christopher DuPont

What Freedom Means to Me

According to the dictionary, the word freedom means the absence of hindrance, restraint, confinement and repression.  Although this is all true, to me freedom means that my choices in life are endless.  I can read whatever books I want; I can practice whatever religion I want and explore what interests me.

Later in life, I can vote for the leaders of my community, state and country.  I can marry whoever I want, live wherever I want and choose a career that makes me happy.

In order for me to have the freedom to make choices there had to be great sacrifices.  Many men and women have fought to defend our freedoms and the freedom of others and many have lost their lives doing so.

My Uncle Jim is a police officer but he also made a choice to be a Marine Reservist.  He is a Master Gunny Sergeant now with the Marines and he just returned home from his third tour in Iraq.  He had to sacrifice being home with his family this past year in order to help Iraqi citizens who don’t have the choices and freedoms that I do.  One of his biggest jobs was to provide security and help the Iraqis establish their own police force.  By doing this, like here in America children could go to school safely, people were free to shop without fear of being hurt and they even could choose their own leaders by taking a vote.

I don’t know what choices I will make for my future yet; but I do know I am thankful for people like my Uncle Jim and all those who have fought for our freedoms especially the freedom to choose the path we take.

~ Tyler DuPont

MSgt James DuPont lives in Garden City, New York with his wife Kathy and three girls Kelly 15, Susie 13, and Lindsey 10.  He has been a police officer for over 20 years.  He is currently a Nassau County police officer and works out of the third precinct in Williston Park, New York where he is a PBA delegate.

MSgt James DuPont is the Operations chief for Weapons Company 2nd Battalion 25th Marines.  His unit has been activated 3 times since  September 11th 2001 and he has served two combat tours in Iraq.  He has been in the Marine Corps for 28 years and has just been selected for the top enlisted rank of Master gunnery Sergeant.  He has been awarded 2 Navy Commendations and a Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding service in Iraq along with the Combat Action Ribbon.  He has also been awarded the Global War on Terrorism and the Expeditionary Global War on Terrorism medals.  He has just been awarded the Iraqi Campaign Medal and has received his second Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.  His awards number 12 and he and his family are very proud of them.

Welcome Home Jim Dupont