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Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion 
but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
~Adlai Stevenson, Jr., speech to the American Legion Convention, 1952~ 

July is a month to celebrate our freedom in America. We have been a free nation since 1776 when only a small percentage, it is reported 17% of the colonists, participated in fighting the British for our freedom. Today the struggles for freedom are long forgotten....freedom is a given. We are born free and many of us live out our lives taking it for granted, like the air we breathe. It's just part of America, to be able to say whatever we would like, to print whatever we think....to do whatever we are capable of accomplishing in our lifetime. 

As veterans speak around the country at different Fourth of July celebrations, they remind us that freedom isn't free. They tell us we need to visit other countries to truly understand how blessed we are here in America. The veterans tell us that we can't realize freedom without ever having not had it. That we can't understand how wonderful we have it here in America unless we go somewhere else. But for me, realizing how precious freedom is happened in a different way. I have never left the United States. Something else helped me realize my freedom isn't free....meeting first a sailor, and then a soldier and becoming aware of the fact that thousands of other American citizens are choosing to serve in our great military....to keep us free. Command Sgt. Maj. John G. Allen said "We wear the uniform because we want to. No one forces us to. We love this land. We wear this uniform because of our flag that symbolizes freedom. We wear this uniform because of those who have died." Those who serve, love America and all she has to offer, but they see an importance to protect our country. 

Saint Augustine said "The purpose of all war is peace." Since 9/11 there has been a surge of renewed patriotism in America. There was an article in a Romanian newspaper after 9/11. The author of that article speculated on how so many people of different nationalities, different faiths, different lifestyles pulled together and helped each other. He pondered the question, what was the driving force behind men carrying elderly down a hunded flights of stairs, and rescue workers going into buildings knowing they would never walk out? The author concluded his article by summing everything up in one word....freedom. 

Freedom something we all share in America, and a few pay for. America is a great country and our compassion is known around the world. I read somewhere that our military personnel who go to other countries are ambassadors of freedom. They are freedom in action....helping around the world. Sharing some of our good fortune. 

And so even though I can't fully appreciate my freedom having never been anywhere but "home"....I know that many serving in our military are paying a dear price away from home. To me the uniforms are a reminder of just how priceless freedom really is....

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. 
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on 
for them to do the same, or one day we will 
spend our sunset years telling our children 
and our children's children 
what it was once. 
~Ronald Reagan~

How did you...sleep last night?

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