Walt Disney the American Hero Essays -- essays research papers

Walt Disney the American Hero Walt Disney; When that name is spoken faces of children and adults alike light up with looks of sheer joy. When debating what to see at the movies the newest Disney flick is almost always decided upon over the others. With Disney people are 100 percent sure to walk out of the theater happy and smiling. From the catchy theme songs to the thrilling theme parks Disney has built the fantasy empire. Although he built the fantasy world Disney was not a man who walked around with his head in the clouds. He used his animation and film making skills to not only make fantastic movies but to also bring joy into times of war, fun into times of education, and excitement into times of vacation making him, Walt Disney, the epitome of an American hero. At the young age of sixteen Walt Disney was not the typical teenager. He was not obsessed with how he looked, or who did or didn't like him. His concerns were of the world and the fate of his country. In 1918, Walt signed up to defend his country in the military, but because of his young age he was turned away(www.tudlp.org Walt Disney Biography). Rejection was no discouragement to Walt, in fact, it was quite the opposite it was an encouragement to join the American Red Cross. With the Red Cross Walt was immediately shipped over seas to be a chauffeur and ambulance driver(www.tudlp.org Walt Disney Biography). Even in times of war Disney could bring smiles. Disney risked being captured, by covering his ambulance not with usual war time camouflage but with bright lively Disney cartoons(www.tudlp.org Walt Disney Biography). Again, unlike most other teenagers, who were more concerned with getting the job witch paid the most money and entailed the least amount of physical labor, Disn ey volunteered out of his own free will to risk his life for his country with his only reward being the moments of happiness he had brought to a country plagued with war. As part of his down to earth optimistic nature Disney had always put the advancement of education at the top of his priorities. He was a man who knew that education should be fun and wanted to do everything possible to make it that way. As Disney got older he realized that along with fame comes influence. He used his influence to build a school, a college of the cr... ...rf sized Oscars(Great Events from History. Disney releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Walt Disney created the American fantasy from thoughts pulled out of the far reaches of his imagination. He was a man who had never let go of his inner child. By simply reaching for that inner child he created every child's dream in the form of a simple talking mouse. That mouse became his trademark. Mickey was a trade mark to be used to his advantage though. With his fame and money gained from Mickey he could go on to do heroic things like build schools, work to aid his country during war, build family friendly theme parks, and make unforgettable movies. Walt Disney once said "The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing(ww2.netnitco.net Walt Disney's Great Quotes)." That is exactly what Disney has done and what all Americans should strive to do. Throughout his life Disney taught the world that "It's kind of fun to do the impossible(ww2.netnitco.net Walt Disney's Great Quotes)." If all of America strove to do the impossible everyday then every A merican would soon fit in beside Walt Disney under the category of an American hero.