THE 4TH OF JULY

This past 4th of July I checked my "guest book". There was a special holiday message from Jim Lampman, a Navy SEAL, who lives in southern California. I asked his permission to put the message on my web site. He wrote back stating the message was put together by many people....he received it by e-mail. He suggested I just put "Author Unknown"

July 4, 1999 - On this 223rd birthday of our nation we still voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people, for the people. Our Flag "Old Glory" is the sacred emblem of our country. It symbolizes our birthright, our heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow. Our Flag is our title deed of freedom, which is ours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity. As you see Our Flag silhouetted against the peaceful skies of our country this Indepenence Day, remind yourself that it is the flag of your country, that it stands for what you are - no more, no less. Dedicate your lives to those principles for which our Flag stands: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Our Flag was created in freedom. It made its first appearance in a battle for human liberty. Today fifty stars signal from the union of our flag, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known. There is but one word that describes our American Flag, that word is Freedom. not live under that Nazi sNo Way! Because of the American veterans we live in a free country under the Red White and Blue, our Stars and Stripes that we call "Old Glory". Our American flag always shines brightly, always! It acquires its brilliance from American Veterans who fought and died to preserve it. It sure seems to me, that our flag shines much brighter today as we celebrate our nations birthday. Our American veterans have fought for these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity, and they have prevailed, what so proudly they hailed... We are a privileged people to live in this free country, however our freedom was paid for with a tremendous cost, Freedom is never Free. As we celebrate the birth of our nation let us remember those who fought and died to keep this nation free. We are forever in thier debt. It is our love and duty to be proud of them! Thanks for taking the time to read this....... Jim