Freedom isn't Free

Freedom isn't free. It never has been and it never will. Those who would sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither and soon have what they deserve.

We owe our freedom and prosperity to the warriors who made our country free and have kept us that way since 1776. All have given some and some gave all. All the warriors give their today for our freedom, some give a portion or even all of their tomorrows here on earth for our freedom.

We owe them.

Very few of the warriors have a sense of being owed. Seldom do warriors realize what sacrifice they are making.

There is the constant threat of death or injury. Not only in combat, but in training. For many warriors, training is more dangerous than combat.

Most warriors are young, many have young families. Not for twenty years or so after the fact, do they realize what it meant to their family to be gone. Gone for Christmas, gone for New Years, gone for Easter, gone for the birthdays, anniversaries and funerals. Gone for school plays, gone for the Big Game. Gone, so you and I can be free. Warriors spend a lot of time away from home, training, deployed, in combat, all time away from their families. Both Active, Reserve and Guard. Gone.

Warriors do what they do because that is who they are. They do it for God, Honor, Country. They do it so their families can stay free. They do it because they have a sense of debt to those who have gone before. They do it to keep the war far from our homeland.

Yes, it is an "All Volunteer Force." But, that does not mean we do not owe them for what we will not do or cannot do.

As you spend time with your family, thank the warriors, remember them in your prayers.