Friday, July 4, 2008

Why We Get To Celebrate Our Freedom

Today is the day we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is my hope that one day in the next few years, I will have the opportunity to take my children to visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia. But let us never forget what allowed that event to not only take place, but to endure for this many years.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, Trenton, New York City, Camden, Brandywine, and so many other places during the Revolutionary War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Tripoli and other parts of the Barbary Coast.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Baltimore, Quebec, Tippecanoe, and New Orleans during the War of 1812.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Vera Cruz, Monterrey, and Mexico City during the War with Mexico.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Antetiam, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Chancellorsville during the Civil War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Little Big Horn and other places in the West in hostilities with Indians.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Havana and in the Phillipines during the War with Spain.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Belleau Wood and the Argonne Forest during World War I.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, North Africa, Palermo, Paris, and Normandy Beach during World War II.
It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Inchon and the Chosen Resovoir during the Korean War.

It has endured because brave men fought and died at places like Dak To, Hue, and Da Nang during the War in Vietnam.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Grenada and Panama.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Kuwait and Southern Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Bosnia.

It has endured because brave men fought and died in places like Afganistan, and in Baghdad.

And no matter the struggle, we never forget! May we never tire of serving each other and our country! Let freedom ring!!

Bruce