In the War Between The States…our Civil War…over six-hundred thousand were killed…about the same number (plus women and children) that Moses led out of Egypt to the Promised Land. In World War One, although we were over there only about the last year of it, over a hundred-thousand of our boys died.

In World War Two, during our three-and-a-half years in it, we lost over four-hundred thousand. In the Korean Conflict, almost thirty-seven thousand…in VietNam, over fifty-eight thousand, and they’re still counting in this Middle-East mess.

The cream of the crop…the very best of our population…those from eighteen and up, with even married men with children back home were in those wars. Back here at home, a blue star in the window for each person in service. A gold star for those who died, and families dreaded to see the telegram deliverer come near their home…afraid that their star was about to change from blue to gold.

We especially honor those who died. But let me tell you…every person who went into service was offering up his life. Only fate sent him into battle or not; at any rate, he offered, and is just as much a hero as those who didn’t come back. He or she went where they were ordered with no argument. It was their war to win, so that we here at home could stay free. A life is a life, and like Jesus Christ, they offered without resistance.

As we remember them on Independence Day 2009, let’s remember all of the military…those in graves from the shark-infested waters of the South Pacific, to mud-filled foxholes in Germany…who offered themselves for this Independence that we celebrate now. And pray that this freedom will continue.