Dear Friends,
For 249 years, the United States has stood as a beacon of liberty in a world too often shadowed by tyranny. From the fields of Lexington and Concord to the trenches of Europe, from the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of the Middle East, generations of Americans have laid down their lives to defend not just a piece of land, but a timeless idea: that all people are created equal, and that governments exist to secure our God-given rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Time and again, America has changed the course of history for the better. Ours is not just a shining city on a hill—it is a force for freedom, dignity, and democracy around the world. No nation has done more to protect liberty or to uplift the cause of humanity.
Yet today, that greatness is too often overlooked. A recent Gallup poll found that just 58% of Americans say they are “extremely” or “very” proud to be American—a record low. But the freedoms we enjoy each day—the right to speak, to worship, to build a life of our choosing—were not inherited by chance. They were secured by patriots who understood that liberty is not free. It must be defended and protected–or it will be lost.
This Fourth of July, as we gather with family and friends, let us honor those who have served this noble cause and pay a special tribute to those who gave the last full measure of devotion so we might live free. Let us look beyond what divides us and reaffirm the values that unite us. We are blessed to call this exceptional nation our home and we must never take that for granted.
From all of us at Veterans on Duty, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy and meaningful Independence Day.
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Sincerely,
Jay Kramer
President, Veterans On Duty
