Editorial: Mackenzie’s Honor Flight mission
Published: September 22, 2009
To an American child, war is an abstract concept. They have not yet learned the meaning of patriotism, honor and duty. Killing another human being in the course of protecting our nation is beyond their comprehension. In fact, even a simple understanding of death may be out of their reach.
Six-year-old Mackenzie Leger may not grasp the nuance and broad context of conflict, but she understands gratitude and the importance of acknowledging a debt that can never be adequately repaid.
The Enterprise youngster attended a Sept. 11 service in Veterans Memorial Park in Dothan, and took the opportunity to offer thanks in her own way.
Children her age aren’t usually astute business leaders, but Mackenzie honed her roadside stand skills at age 4, when she sold drinks to raise money for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
She knew she had a winning business model, and spent the day before the Sept. 11 service hawking lemonade and coffee in front of her house. She cleared a whopping $85, which she presented to the Wiregrass Honor Flight, a program to take World War II veterans from the area to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorial.
We applaud Mackenzie for her appreciation for those who fought to safeguard a world where a preschooler is free to set up shop in her own front yard and raise money for a good cause, and her parents, as well, for raising a child with such stellar values.
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Reader Reactions
It amazes and disappointments me that anyone could read an article about a little girls demonstration of selflessness, patriotism, and gratitude for our WWII veterans and respond with such a display of utter ignorance. It is very disturbing that you would categorize teaching our children about the history of our country and instilling in them gratitude for our WWII veterans as “brainwashing.” Should we not teach our children to honor our country, and the men and women whom have sacrificed their lives for us to enjoy the very freedoms that we enjoy today? Obviously this child has not been brainwashed at all, rather her parents are instilling philanthropist values and teaching her to honor the defenders of our country and our freedoms. Should she play with Barbie dolls, yes, and she does. I know her mother and have worked with her a social service capacity for many years, so let me tell you, if you want to vent about what parents should and should not be doing regarding their children maybe you should refocus your concern to parents who don’t take the time to love and care for their children and back off from the one’s who take the time to teach and mentor their children and instill in them the exceptional values that this little girl has so clearly demonstrated. God has blessed Mackenzie with a tremendous heart, and exceptional and patriotic parents who love her enough to teach her about gratitude and service work. BTW this mother not only allows her daughter to play like a child should, she plays with her daughter!!! There is a fine balance to be found between allowing your child to live in a world of make believe and teaching them about the realities of the world……….this family has clearly found that balance.
Wow what a child , I don’t think that they teach this kind of patriotism in schools, it’s got to be from example, of her family . If it takes a warrior culture to protect our country and keep GOD in our life so be it. If you don’t like it Leave this country . I’m Mackinzie’s Granddad and retired Navy.
Our family is so blessed to have such a loving and giving child. She’s the one that came up with the idea to make money. No one suggested it to her.
To say that we are all very very proud of her would be minimizing our true feelings.
Thank the Dothan Eagle for taking time to write this beautiful article about our beautiful grandchild. It is a wonderful thing to see such a positive story and not someone hurting or threatening our country.
God Bless America and God Bless Mackenzie.
Yes, chiefly her parents, who have clearly indoctrinated her in warrior culture. Why isn’t she playing with Barbies? The brainwashing implied in this story is troubling.
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