What Price Freedom? By Brook Carder
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What Price Freedom?
By Brook Carder
$20,000 is what it takes to buy a car. It will cost you over $80,000 for a nice home. It seems like everything in our society has a price today. But what about our most important possession, our freedom? How can we possibly comprehend the cost of something that is so simple, yet so vital?
The price for the freedom that our nation enjoys is not now and has never been cheap. We could measure in dollars – our national defense budget totaling billions of dollars. Each year we build planes, bombs, tanks and ships to better our technology. Our armed forces have many brave men and women. We have a president, congressmen, senators and Supreme Court judges. Untold numbers of public servants are told daily to uphold the principles of freedom. When we look at freedom in these aspects it would seem that with enough time and computer space we could actually be able to calculate what it costs Americans to maintain freedom.
Let’s not talk about freedom in dollars, let’s think about freedom in terms of those who, as Abraham Lincoln said, “gave their full measure of devotion.” Each day thousands of men and women are willing to place their lives on the line to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
I appreciate my freedom and my way of life. Growing up with a father in the navy can do that to you. I learned at an early age to honor and respect our flag. It seems to only be a piece of cloth to so many of my generation. I have watched on T.V. as Americans have stood by while foreigners and protestors in our own country burned our flag. How can that be? I could never let anyone mistreat the symbol of our nation. I was thinking about this the other day. I realize that thousands of Americans have died, even as recently as October 2000 as 17 sailors gave their lives serving and protecting our freedom and millions of other service men and women continue to protect and defend our freedom. How can we ever consider putting a price on the sacrifices and the countless acts of bravery put forth by these great patriots?
I would like to tell you a story about what happened to me recently. I was attending a convention as we made one of our tour stops. I became very disappointed in the actions of a group on the tour stop, when people failed to stand as our flag was displayed. It was a vivid reminder to me that Americans take their flag and their freedom for granted. I made my mind up then and there to always show patriotism and pride in the flag of the United States of America. As it waves in this land of the free, it reflects the price of freedom if you look hard enough.
It was John F. Kennedy who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Even though I am not in the military and I hope that I am never asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, I still believe that I must do my part because Freedom has to be guarded as closely in peace as it is in war. Americans seem to forget that. Being an example for others and sharing my patriotism every hour of every day will allow me to pass on the pride and respect I have for this precious commodity called freedom. To all of those who have served, thank you for giving me the freedom to speak. Love America and give thanks and never forget those who gave up all of their tomorrows so we may have all of our todays.
You asked “What price Freedom?” My answer: “Priceless!!!”