We Owe Them Everything

We in America are free to express our opinions. Free to read and write anything we want from any source we choose. We can travel freely from state to state. We are free to worship as we choose or choose not to worship. Free to openly and publicly criticize our leaders and government officials including the President himself without fear of retribution. Free to nominate who we want for office. Free to vote for who we see as the most qualified and vote out those who do a poor job of serving the people. Free to start a business. Free to seek the best education. Free to expect a guarantee of justice in the court system. Free to keep and bear arms to defend ourselves against criminals and tyranny.

We have the freedom to do all these things and many more. And we owe all those freedoms to a twenty year old PFC from Virginia. A twenty-two year old female Air Force cadet From Wisconsin. A fourty year old Sergeant Major from Texas.

I know who defends these freedoms.

My father.
At age 18 returning fire while ducking mortar rounds lobbed by elements of the 116th Panzer Division in a battle near the town of Magdeburg Germany.

My uncle.
He lied about his age so he could fight in Korea at age 16 as part of a tank crew.

My brother.
He was completely exposed to hostile fire as he engaged multiple targets while leading his Company of Special Forces to seize Saddam's airport.

There is something I always do in my travels. I can't help it. If I see a member of our Armed Forces in uniform, I make a point to walk up and extend my hand and thank them sincerely for their service and sacrifice to our country. It is the least I can do. More often than not it is a young man or woman full of confidence and pride. Squared away. Ready and eager to do the job we have trained them for... the job they volunteered to do.

The same valiant job done by the Minutemen at Concord.

The 2nd Ranger Battalion at Pointe du Hoc.

5th Special Forces in Iraq.
And countless other units.

I would urge you to do the same the next time you see one of these brave men and women. Let them know how proud America is to have them as our sons and daughters.

Abraham Lincoln said "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him".

I am extremely proud and thankful for our Military. And America cannot possibly repay them for what they do for us as a nation.

A *FREE* nation.

May God Bless them all.