It would not surprise anyone who knows Alexander McGrath that his favorite quote is from the late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis:
“In a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen.”
Alexander, our Military Child of the Year ® 2017 for the U.S. Navy shares why this quote motivates him. “This quote is powerful to me as it is a reminder of the vital importance of citizenship,” Alexander writes. “As a member of a military family, I am aware of the costs of freedom. This makes the quote especially important as it speaks to the importance of being active in your community and taking seriously the responsibilities which go along with citizenship.”
He continues, “I feel a very deep connection to this country. It also gives me a sense of responsibility to work to better my community, as I appreciate the things which our service members do and the sacrifices they and their families have made. Out of appreciation for the sacrifices of my father and countless other service members, I feel both a sense of pride and a responsibility to make the most of the freedoms, liberties and opportunities afforded to us in this country.”
Though he is not even eligible to vote yet, this incredible young man has taken the idea of service to others to heart. Already, this senior from Severna Park, MD High School has established a laudable track record of influencing public policy in the state of Maryland.
As a legislative aide to the assistant majority leader of the Maryland House of Delegates, Alexander helped craft police reform and juvenile justice agendas. As first vice president of the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils, which represents more than 80,000 county students at all levels of government, Alexander organized 700 students to lobby in favor of three education reform bills that would come before the Maryland General Assembly. Ultimately, all three bills got to committee and two became law.
Alexander has also long advocated on behalf of students from military families, personally bringing the needs of military children to the Maryland State Board of Education’s attention, notably those needs protected under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
“While there is tremendous support already for military families, there is still work to be done,” he writes. “Education professionals, especially administrators at local schools need to be aware of the unique challenges military children face and respond with flexibility and support.”
The son of Capt. Richard McGrath and Jessica McGrath, Alexander has been accepted to three of our nation’s top universities: Yale University, the University of Virginia, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Building on a youth steeped in public policy-making, Alexander is destined to make a difference in citizens’ lives in any path that he pursues.
Operation Homefront would like to thank presenting sponsor, United Technologies, for their support of Military Child of the Year®. Support from companies like United Technologies and all of our MCOY sponsors is invaluable in helping us showing appreciation for the contributions our military families make to our communities.
