What does it mean to you to be an American?

I wanted to add something I wrote up about what it means to be an American. I could not fit it into the space allotted so I am putting it here so please let me know what you think: We have a myriad of beliefs in America. We have the right to believe in God or not. We have the right to be Conservative or Liberal. We have the opportunity to work hard and make a life for ourselves and those we love. But what does it mean to be an American?
Our Founding Fathers came to this country and fought to be free from the yoke of Great Britain because they wanted the freedom to worship as they saw fit. They also did not want to be taxed without representation. They desired the freedom to work for their families and be able to provide more for them the harder they worked. They helped their fellow man.
Today is an “all about me” society. If it does not affect us directly and immediately, sadly we do not care. People are being butchered all over the world for freedoms we take for granted. That is one thing Americans are NOT; people who take freedoms for granted. Whenever and where ever there is a need, Americans are typically the first to respond. We have always lended a helping hand to those who needed it. Americans preferred a helping hand up as compared to a hand out. They had a sense of pride of self that said thank you but I can take it from here. We have bred a generation of individuals whose sole desire is to come of age and get on disability. That is not an American.
So I have given you some examples and have told you that they do not represent true American values. What are good representations of American ideals? How about the Firefighters who ran into the Twin Towers on 9/11? They knew the situation was grave, but the also knew that people were trapped inside and needed their help. They ran towards the certain danger and death to aid those who needed it. THAT is an example of an American value.
We still do not know the truth about Benghazi, but we do know that when the attack began we had heroes running towards the gunfire against overwhelming odds to save their fellow Americans. They fought for hours knowing that relief would come (because that, too is an American value and tradition) taking many more of the enemy than there were of the heroes. They fought against overwhelming odds and were prevailing. That is an American value. The fact that assistance was called back (it was already enroute because it is an American Value, but the recall was definitely not based on American values) and we still do not have the truth are not American values. So let us flip the coin and say the search for truth is an American Value.
I could go on and on about American Values, but prefer to list some here for you to contemplate: Honesty, integrity, heroism, valor, charity, love, truth, freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and a concern for the well-being of others; these are American values and it is not so much about what you have but WHO YOU ARE. Many Americans have forgotten the importance of these values, but the time is just over the horizon when these values will be needed again to be used and shared by all Americans. Search your hearts and our history for the truth that has been hidden. Reignite the flame of patriotism and passion for American Values as we are an endangered species. We want freedom for the entire world. We try to give a helping hand up to those who need it or ask for it. We rush headlong into danger out of love for a stranger. This is what makes Americans better than anyone else on the planet. This is what we want to share with the world! What will you do when the building is on fire and you hear a cry for help? What will you do when Old Glory has fallen and needs to be lifted up amidst enemy fire? I hope, like the real Americans who have lived and died before you that you will make the choice the works for the greater good of all. Help the helpless; protect those who cannot protect themselves; fight the oppressor; be proud to be an American. We are on the endangered species list. As long as there are still Americans willing to run towards the danger and other Americans willing to leave no American behind we have a chance. Now I have one question for you: Are you proud to be an American?