This week we honor those who chose to sacrifice their time, and many their lives, to defend an idea they believed in. That choice was an act of love. Love for America, its people, and the way of life shared with other Americans. Regardless of all the divisive political rhetoric, when in a firefight color, religion, creed, friend or not, mean nothing. Only warriors protecting each other in coordinated effort, and the desire to live through the fight matter.  How will you honor your fellow Americans that sacrificed so much? Will you prove their sacrifice was not in vain? Is it only in battle we can act as one people, as red blooded Americans? Is the freedom defended, the freedom to take each other’s freedom? Have we forgotten what real freedom is?

In the Declaration Of Independence, a touch stone founding document, it is said that among these unalienable rights are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  All are intertwined. We each have the liberty to live in a way that makes us happy. My pursuit of happiness, so long as it does not deprive or harm another American, is mine to pursue. Because you think I should pursue something else is irrelevant. You pursue that happiness and I’ll pursue mine. You cannot deny, nor punish me for using my liberty and freedom to live and be happy. Nor can I be forced to subsidize your pursuits. True freedom means I choose for me, even if it’s the wrong choice, it my choice. My freedom to live my life as it makes me happy  is not yours to dictate. If you have a problem with my happiness, it is Your problem, not mine. You may not take my liberty to live happy because you have a problem.

Too many have sacrificed for our freedom, our Liberty, Our Life, and our Happiness for us to act contrary to what they sacrificed for. They honored their pledge to us. Let us honor them by maintaining and preserving the Freedom they sacrificed to protect.

Steven L. Johnson

U. S. Army RA 1968 -1976

I chose.

Steven L. Johnson

COO

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