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July 04, 2003Independence DayIt's the Fourth of July and I wanted to take a moment to note how dearly I love this country. Providence has a peculiar way of placing circumstance in my path. Last night, I had drinks with a Korean War veteran. We told Army stories to each other, talked about politics, women, and the local goings-on of this little town. It reminded me as the clock neared midnight that today is our nation's 227th birthday. Others have added their thoughts about this special day and I am compelled to add my voice to the celebration of this day and for what it stands. Being the case, read on for some short observations on what this country really means to me. If you have never been overseas to a developing country, you'll never be able to fully appreciate all that we have and how we're blessed. In the little villages we visited in Honduras in advance of projects to build water towers, waste water sytems, schools, roads, the health clinics we held for a day with a Special Forces medic, I learned in my soul what I had long suspected. The United States had made it possible for me to be the man I am today and we do our share of good neighborly deeds in developing countries. The Hondurans from villages of less than 100, living in little better than a mud hut--they knew the U.S. was a friend and they welcomed us like family. This country means so much to so many people the world over. I'm proud to be a small part of it. Until you have gone after visas for a an ex-patriate of a state sponsor of terrorism who fled because he loved what the United States of America stood for and offered, you'll never know the value of U.S. citizenship. Try getting a waiver of the NSEERS requirements for the same man while a war in Iraq and a war on terror were underway. Go through it once, and you'll value your citizenship forever. As a former soldier in the Army, I have some inkling of the cost and sacrifice our men and women in uniform give to keep the rest of us safe and free to enjoy the liberties we take for granted everyday. My father fought in Vietnam and he still is haunted at times from things he saw there. He is lucky, he adjusted and carried on with life--many Vietnam veterans weren't able to handle the experiences there. It's part of the reason why he refused to sign me into the Army a month before my 18th birthday. He was in the Air Force and to this day cannot contemplate why I ever joined the Army Airborne. Longtime readers will remember my dear friend Shell whose husband was deployed to Iraq two weeks after they were married. Mike was with the Marine's Taskforce Tarawa and he was in the heavy fighting at Nasireyah. All he has said about those battles was that he lost friends and he never wants to talk about April 23. Fate never had it for me to go to combat, but it has for others. Because of friends like Mike, men like my Dad, and every person who ever toed the line in defense our great country and our way of life, thank you on behalf of all Americans and people the world over who depend on you to bring peace and liberty to places near and far. Happy Birthday United States and thank you for all you've done for me and the people the world over! Comments
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