VOICE OF LOST INNOCENCE STUDIO CITY'S TEEN'S 9-11 SPEECH EARNS TOP PRIZE, SCHOLARSHIP.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer Kate Siegel spoke of a fictional girl's reaction to the Twin Towers' destruction to illustrate how young Americans lost some innocence on Sept. 11, 2001 - an account that won the 17-year-old a nationwide contest and a $30,000 scholarship. Siegel's talk on ``How I Demonstrate My Freedom'' was one of 80,000 entries from around the globe in the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Voice of Democracy's annual speech competition. ``The main point of it was how my generation was affected by what happened,'' said Siegel, who lives in Studio City. ``It seems like we were completely safe and now we realize we have something special after 9-11. ``I know I had never given it a thought - never understood how significant it was - that other countries don't have the same freedoms that I completely take for granted.'' When the Harvard-Westlake School Harvard-Westlake School is a secular, independent, coeducational college preparatory day school located in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12. junior delivered her speech last week in Washington, D.C., she drew a standing ovation from members of Congress and State Department officials. ``I'm so happy, I'm ecstatic,'' said Siegel, among 55 finalists from the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Europe, Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. and the Caribbean. ``It was an amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. opportunity and an amazing experience, and I got to know 54 of the most brilliant and talented people from all over the world.'' Siegel won the Canoga Park VFW See Video for Windows. competition and the VFW District 7 competition in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. in December. She moved on to the state competition in Sacramento and won that Jan. 20 - her 17th birthday. ``That was the best birthday ever,'' she said. Doug Rockwell, chairman of Voice of Democracy's District 7, said California hasn't had a state winner since the late 1990s. Siegel is the only San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. entrant to win the international competition in the 59 years the contest has been held. ``We're very proud of her,'' Rockwell said. ``She won because her speech was very personal and it hit home. It was something everyone could relate to.'' ``We're very proud of all 80,000 entries. These kids are going to be the adults of tomorrow, and they will be fantastic citizens.'' In Siegel's speech, which she wrote in ``three intense days,'' she recalled what she felt on 9-11, writing from the perspective of a fictional 12-year-old who comes downstairs to find her parents silently watching the news on television that morning, learning of the terrorist attacks on New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . She sees the World Trade Center buildings collapse; one of them is the building where her ``Uncle Mike'' works. Siegel wrote about how teenagers can demonstrate their freedom by exercising, protecting and defending their rights. They can support the military troops, lobby Congress to provide body armor Noun 1. body armor - armor that protects the wearer's whole body body armour, cataphract, coat of mail, suit of armor, suit of armour armet - a medieval helmet with a visor and a neck guard , campaign to support political candidates who support lifetime medical and pension benefits for veterans and refuse to allow the threat of terrorism stop them from living their lives. ``As my generation prepares to assume the mantle of leadership and the burden of fighting and defending our country, we must make sure that the young girl who woke up happy that Sept. 11 morning remains optimistic, confident that her Uncle Mike did not die in vain,'' Siegel wrote. ``We will exercise, protect and defend our freedom in the name of those who no longer can; for all of our Uncle Mikes, for all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives fighting for our precious freedom.'' Siegel will attend the Valley Forge Freedom  This article or section contains information about a sporting event or team. Foundation this summer, speak at the VFW's National Convention and meet with legislators from California in Washington, D.C. She plans to study broadcast journalism Broadcast journalism refers to television news and radio news, as well as the online news outlets of broadcast affiliates. in college, which she hopes will allow her to combine her love of writing, public speaking, politics, history and law. Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) In a winning speech for the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Voice of Democracy contest, Kate Siegel explores the idea of innocence lost after 9-11 and of Americans' need to exercise their rights. (2) Veterans of Foreign Wars' speech contest winner Kate Siegel links arms with VFW state commander Shirley Shaw, right, and Dorothy Fisher, state president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. |
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