Every military member takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Every military member knows that oath will require sacrifice, possibly even the ultimate sacrifice, yet it seems well worth it to protect for our fellow citizens the liberties that the Constitution guarantees. Historically, the American soldier has protected the liberties of his fellow citizens and also secured liberty for the citizens of numerous other countries. That list of other countries is still growing.
I have served with soldiers for almost twenty years and it is very humbling to have people thank me for my service. The most humbling thank you occurred in Bangor, Maine after my first deployment to the Middle East. As I entered the terminal in Bangor with other returning service members, there was a party of veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam standing alongside other Bangor residents to greet us upon our return. Not one of us returning in that particular flight had made the kind of sacrifices those veterans of previous generations had made, but they did not care. They valued their liberty and our efforts to preserve and spread it. We received the kind of welcome that an American President or the hottest rock star of the day would envy. Those folks provided food, drink, cell phones, and all kinds of support for us on the last leg of our journey home. We were all completely overwhelmed (see God Bless Bangor, Maine
Over the course of my deployments to the Middle East, I have seen and heard of many acts of courage. I believe the American public is hungry to hear these stories, but most never get told. The stories that do get into the media do not get the level of coverage that Michael Jackson’s death or Britney Spears habitual lack of underwear seem to generate. I believe there should be a cable channel dedicated to telling the stories of heroes like the channel dedicated to telling the latest on entertainers (E!). Maybe, we call it “F”, the Freedom channel, telling the story of men and women like the Georgia National Guardsman who led his convoy successfully through an IED attack while his appendix ruptured. He didn’t get a medal (as far as I know), just a MEDEVAC. I heard his story while he was recovering in the hospital and after we exchanged call signs, discovered that I had talked with him on the radio that night. I remembered every detail of that night, but I never knew that he was bent over double in pain during the ambush. The guy was a pro and did his job under the worst of conditions. He gave no indications of the pain he was in to me or his men. I would say he demonstrated courage that Michael and Britney never experienced first hand. There are countless other stories I can share in person if you have the time: my buddy who escaped the hospital while recovering from injuries so he could return to his unit (this happened in 2004, not 1944); the soldier who defeated cancer twice, even when he had to shop around to find a doctor as determined as he was to win those victories; the “Missing Parts in Action” soldiers who run the Army Ten Miler each year to declare victory over the handicaps they acquired in service of their country – if you want a motivating experience, try to feel sorry for yourself as a soldier with an artificial leg is in front of you on the Army Ten Miler course.
The American soldier not only demonstrates courage, but also inspires it. I had the honor of meeting a number of brave Iraqis who were risking their lives and the lives of the family to rebuild their country. Before security broke out in Iraq, many leaders had to sleep in their offices because it was too dangerous to return home each day. Most Iraqi leaders have been targeted if not attacked by the enemies of freedom, but continue to march on with a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Furthermore, insurgents and foreign fighters targeted every Iraqi, not just leaders, during the previous few rounds of elections, but voters still turned out in overwhelming numbers. I have no doubts that the Iraqis will persevere until they achieve peace and prosperity. I treasure meeting such brave men and have as my most prized possession from my last deployment, a picture taken with one such Iraqi leader.
The greatness of every country depends on the citizens exercising their responsibilities. Prisoners don’t have many responsibilities, but free men do. What a shame for free men to act like prisoners and not live up to their responsibilities. Despite what the Stoics might believe, indifference is not a virtue. As long as the American soldier pledges his life to protect the liberties in the Constitution for his fellow Americans, I believe Americans have an obligation to value the Constitution and exercise their liberties. If citizens do not keep themselves informed and involved, then they will no longer have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, but they will have government on the people. If you are not sure what that means, ask an Iraqi, they remember.
Every person who works for the U.S. government works for the American people. There is no better employer, but I would like to remind the American people not to be afraid to fire any government employees who are not doing a good job. The American people deserve the best from their government, but everybody has to do their part to hold the government accountable. An informed people will preserve liberty where an uninformed people will lose their liberty. Some of you could do a better job than many of the current members of government and should hire yourselves on as soon as possible. The interviews are called elections and they occur in pretty predictable intervals. It takes a little courage to live up to your responsibilities as citizens, but courage is still dominant in the American DNA.
Despite some people’s lack of understanding of the concept, American exceptionalism is alive and well, but it is very much an individual pursuit. God designed each of us for a specific purpose and has a specific will for our lives. Americans became an exceptional people collectively because they recognized God’s purpose for them as individuals and had the freedom to achieve that purpose. We will only lose our exceptionalism if we lose touch with God’s purpose for us.
Nothing motivates me more than to see people who are chasing their God-inspired dreams. I know dozens of people who have traded job security for the pursuit of happiness. To list a few:
* the Army Captain who left the service to become a priest
* the Army Captain who is now a successful high school football coach
* the Army Captain who left the service for the higher calling of
being a mother
* the Air Force Captain who left the military service to serve
others through a career in medicine
* my high school friend who owns his own music business and is
passionate about his work
* the other high school friend who is cutting a gospel album filled
with songs he wrote himself (I got a preview of the album and love
every song)
* the friend from junior high school who left a successful career to
become a writer
This is what makes our country great generation after generation and is what I celebrate each Fourth of July. I believe these people are doing what God intended them to do and it is inspiring. I am paying attention because I need to decide what I am going to do when I grow up in three or four years. Because I live in the greatest country on earth, I still have the freedom to do anything God leads me to. Because I value my freedom, I have the responsibility to do what God designed me to do. Because I know so many who have shown the courage to achieve God’s purpose in their lives, I have the courage to as well. Do you?
Have a great Independence Day this Fourth of July and every day thereafter!
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