Thank You

by Steve Dunford

Today, on May 29, 2017 we are a free people in a free nation.  The freedoms that we enjoy today wasn’t free, someone paid a price for them on a battlefield across the globe.

All the way back to the founding of our nation, freedom did not come without bloodshed.  The founding fathers had a vision, as we gained out independence from Great Britain.  Their vision birthed the greatest nation across the globe.

Whoever will be reading this today, you are rich.  We enjoy a standard of living like no other nation has or will have in history.

When you woke up this morning, we have the freedom of choice what we can do with every second of the day in front of us.

We have the choice to worship God freely, without oppression or intimidation from our government.

This is still the land of opportunity.  You have the freedom of what career path you will take, and have the chance to continue to better yourself if you choose.

Every war we have fought over the history of our nation, was to keep us the bastion of freedom we enjoy today.

There are very few families, whether it be recent, or way back in your ancestry that have not had someone that gave their life for their country.

In mine, it is James E. Dunford, who was shot down in an aircraft during WW II.  The American Legion in my hometown of Thompsonville, is named after him.  I had the opportunity a year ago to say a few words at a Veterans Day-Thanksgiving Day dinner.

I was the most unqualified individual there.  I did not serve, or had a sweetheart back home.   I said very few words, but one thing I said was thank you to the ones there, that had the chance to come back home.

Today as we honor those who never came back home, if they still have a living spouse of children, thank them for sacrificing someone they loved on a battlefield, so we can enjoy this picture perfect day in Southern Illinois.

However you choose to celebrate this day, in your prayers and in your heart, say thank you.

 

 

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