God Bless America

New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

I'm proud to be an American
where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died
who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

The first list is a list of the names of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. The second is lyrics from Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." I was thinking tonight about the men who signed that Declaration. I don't think we can comprehend the sacrifice they made for us. I don't think we can comprehend the world they lived in. Democracy as we now know it had never before been a successful form of government. These men literally put their lives on the line for a risk, something that may not work. They became fugitives of the government, all to stand up against unnessary taxation.

Since that day, millions more have fought and died for my freedom, your freedom - OUR freedom. Freedom isn't free. The Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, War in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom - just to name a few of the major conflicts. I can't even name all the military occupations we've had over the 229 years of our country's existance.

Today our wonderful armed services are defending our freedom in Iraq. If any of them come across this, I want them to know that I love what they are doing for me and for every American, past present or future. Freedom is one of the most amazing gifts I've ever been given. I hope all my children, and all my children's children, and all my children's children, will know that this is a gift to them, but this gift is built on the blood, sweat, and tears of all the people who died for their freedom.

On another note: I brought a giant paper towel roll and a giant toilet paper roll home from the restaurant for Miami, and she LOVES them.

Also, Princessa, I miss you too. I've been working like crazy to earn all kinds of money to pay for my car. But call me sometime - surely we can find some time to get together, maybe go for a swim.