What it means to be free

Today, I challenged my students to think about the freedoms they have in this country. I use the word "challenge," because it really is a challenge for some of them to understand that freedom isn't just about which combo meal to order from the drive-thru or which flavor to choose among the 32 flavors given. It's not just about buying a $49.99 video game or choosing to instead buy a few CD's (which were 8-tracks in my day). It's about so much more than the everyday choices we make for ourselves. Freedom was fought for on the beaches in Normandy. Freedom was fought for on the sacred ground at Gettysburg. Freedom is being fought for in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. Freedom is fought for by husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, and by everyday Americans like all the rest of us. On this Veterans Day, I wanted to really show my students that people fought for so many of the things in our society that people just take for granted today. The world would look completely different, and we would be completely different, if those brave men and women hadn't of answered the call to serve in our nation's military. By God's grace, millions have returned home to their families over the years. Some have just simply returned Home. Regardless of your views on war, these brave soldiers of ours have to be given our respect and appreciation. God bless our veterans, and God bless those who are currently in service to this great nation.