Cresson memorial scholarship goes to Stephen Venable

This year’s Jim Cresson Memorial Fund scholarship recipient is Stephen Venable from Milford.

He is a 2020 honors graduate of Veritas Scholar Academy, an online classical school, with a cumulative GPA of 4.0. When not engaged in academics, Venable enjoys music, martial arts and ministry. In the fall, he will attend Cedarville University in Ohio to major in mechanical engineering.

His award-winning essay is below:

What the U.S. military means to  me

I raced home from school. The latest edition of Captain America had come out that morning and I wanted to read it as soon as possible.

As I flung the door open, my mom called to me, “Honey, we have to leave in 10 minutes.”

I yelled back, “Where are we going? I just got home.”

“The VFW. The ladies auxiliary has a meeting tonight and since your dad’s in Iraq, you’re coming with me.”

I groaned. The last thing I wanted to do was to go to a boring meeting when I had a new comic book to read. Hopping into my chair, I grabbed my new edition. Might as well get as far as I could before we had to leave. Focusing on my comic, my bedroom began to blur into darkness. I was so engrossed in my book, I didn’t even realize that I was no longer sitting in my chair. It wasn’t until a bullet whizzed past my ear, that I realized that I was NOT in my bedroom!

Looking around, I saw a flash from a rifle muzzle and a soldier with his weapon trained on me. Out of nowhere, a bright red and blue shield intercepted the bullet that was meant for me. It deflected harmlessly away before the shield ricocheted back to its owner. It was none other than my comic book hero, Captain America.

“Thanks!”

Returning his shield to the harness on his back, he quipped, “You're welcome, friend. What are you doing here?”

“I..I.. don't know. I was reading about you and ... BOOM! I'm here.”

Cap replied, “This is no place for kids...”

“I’m sixteen! And I just got here. Can't I ...”

Cap interrupted. “If you won’t leave, then I have no choice but to take you with me. I need you for a special mission.”

Excitedly, I questioned, “What is it?”

“We are going to fight America's darkest enemy,” replied Cap soberly.

Thinking of Cap's arch-enemies in the comics,” I questioned, “Who is it? Hydra? The Red Skull ?”

“Neither,” Cap uttered. “It is Ignorance.”

“Who’s that? I don't remember anyone by that name in the comics.”

Cap went on, “Ignorance is the enemy with which our nation is struggling. Many no longer remember why our troops are fighting for them. They no longer understand who we are or what we do. Movies and TV shows have glorified war, but not explained the values and reasons behind our actions. To fight Ignorance, we must fight at the heart, the bloodiest battlefield, of every nation.”

My curiosity peaked. I wanted to ask more questions, but he had already jumped onto his motorcycle. Not wanting to be left behind, I quickly popped myself into the sidecar next to him.

Soon, we were standing in the auditorium of a school before a large assembly of children.

Cap began, “The people of this nation need a greater appreciation for our veterans. They need to know that we don't go to war because it is glorious or exciting, nor to satisfy a perverse desire to kill. On the contrary, we sacrifice our comfort, and risk our lives, to preserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We leave our families to fight for something greater than ourselves: freedom comes at a cost, but it is worth its heavy price. Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘Those who would give up liberty, to purchase a little safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety and lose both.’ He was right. However the media may portray soldiers and veterans, people of America, I want you to know, your freedom is a gift bought by the blood of your countrymen. We fight for our families. We fight for our friends. We fight for freedom.”

With a tear in my eye, I looked up at the friendly face of Cap. “You're my hero.”

Pointing to a group of veterans standing at the back of the auditorium, Cap replied, “No, son. They are the real heroes.”

His words reverberated in my mind: “They are the real heroes.”

I felt myself falling and falling and falling. I jolted awake with the comic book still in my hand. I must have been dreaming, but it hadn’t felt like a dream.

“It's time to go to the VFW.”

“Huh?”

My mom walked into my room. “Honey, what have you been doing? I’ve been calling you for the last minute.”

“Oh, sorry mum. I guess I fell asleep.”

I went downstairs with her and hopped into the car. The whole time there I repeated over and over in my head what Captain America had said in that schoolroom.

It suddenly struck me! I never truly understood why we had wars and why my dad had to leave for such a long time. I’d always thought it was because he didn’t love me, but then I understood that it was the reverse.

As we walked into the VFW for my mom’s meeting, I saw a U.S. military veteran sitting alone. I walked over and said to him, “Thank you for your service to our country. You are a true hero.”

Our eyes met and he paused momentarily before speaking. With a twinkle in his eyes and the sound of recognition in his voice, he quipped, “You're welcome, friend.”

Mission accomplished.