Even though we are a few days away from the Holiday known as the 4th of July, I wantedto do this article today. I want us to remember why we have a holiday known asIndependence Day. That ismeans more than just Bar-B-Que, Fireworks and a long weekend. It meansbecause many have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we have the freedoms we enjoy.

As Billy Ray Cyrus sang in his song- "Some gave all while all gave some." Think about it. Think about what it means.

Both Sherri and I have family who serve. I am sure most of you do as well. Sherri has ason who is a Marine and Ihave a brother who is over in Afghanistan as a contractor embedded with the Marines. He puts the tanks and HVs back together after then are blown up sothey can be used again. I have a nephew who isnow with Special Forces. He will soon be leaving his young wife and she will not know wherehe is or what he is doing for four months at a time.

I want to take this whole next week and see just how many names we can put on this blog. I will be writing a different blog all week - however I will keep coming backto this one.

I come from a family of military men. I have family who has fought or served in wars all the way back tothe revolutionary war. I am proud of them. I am proud to say they served.

Without those men and women we would not have this great country .We would still be under English rule or even maybe some other ruler. Without those who served we would not enjoy thefreedoms we have or the ability to be the great nation we are. While we might not agree on all the political issues or the reasons, excuses or rhetoric we should believe in our service men and women.

They all have volunteered to put their life in harm's way. Theyall knew when they joined, that they joined to become a solider first. That meant knowing how to kill or maybe even be killed or maimed. I am veryproud of these men and women. I am very thankful they are who they are and that they do what they do. They are the reason we can sleep at night without the fear of being awoken anddragged off to a prison or firing squad simply because we wear the wrong color dress or don't cover our faces or disagree with the government.

I am honored to know so many of them personally. I am saddened that in the course of their serving many have lost their lives. They paid the ultimate pricefor us. I am humbled that they loved us as Americans so much they were willing to pay that price.