Deep thanks to the brave men and women who have guarded our shores, our children, our honor and our liberty. Because of them, I woke this morning free. My children went to the schools I chose for them. I will go about my business today, making my own decisions, charting my own path. I will freely and openly worship my God. I will have opportunities this day that I will take for granted, but that most around the world would never dream of. We will eat heartily in a warm, safe home, and not worry about how we will get through tomorrow.
We live in the freest, most prosperous, most generous nation on earth, but only because of the warriors willing to fight and die to protect the blessings we claimed over two hundred years ago. Today, and I hope every day, I won't take the gift of being an American for granted. And today, in my small way, that doesn't involve risking life or limb, I'll stand up to protect those liberties that the men and women in our military champion valiantly every day. The threats to freedom, the disdain and contempt for our very way of life, are coming not just from forces around the world, but sadly, from within. For the sake of those who are willing to give the last full measure of their devotion to keep us safe, surely we can dig deep, and do our part to ensure we remain the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
God bless you, our veterans and our military. And God bless the land you defended and still defend today.
