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A Country Worth Dying For

Seth Weathers

Imagine the quiet hush that fell over the room as each of the fifty-six men walked forward and signed their names on that great document, the symbol of American freedom, the Declaration of Independence.  Hardly a word was spoken, the men were somewhat solemn, each knew that they were signing their own death warrants.  The date was July 4, 1776; America was declaring her independence from Great Britain.  Eleven years later another group of men (many of the same who signed the Declaration of Independence) met in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention.  It was here through much debate and deliberation that these men formed what is now our U.S. Constitution.  These were the ‘founding years’ for America.  Never before had such a free nation been formed.

This was the beginning of a new nation, the greatest and freest nation to ever exist in the history of the world, the United States of America.  Since this time America has been viewed by the world as a symbol of freedom and prosperity.  Many are willing to risk their lives trying to reach this great land of opportunity.  Some courageous Cubans and Haitians have even dared to enter makeshift rafts and attempt to cross the ocean to America to begin a new life of freedom.

America didn’t gain, nor maintain, her unique freedom leisurely, but at great cost.  America has always given her blood, sweat, and tears for her freedom.  Beginning with the American Revolution, and most recently our War on Terrorism, thousands upon thousands of lives have been given so that you and I can enjoy the freedom that we have today.  Let us be sure that we never give cause to these men who gave their lives to have died in vain.  Men such as Nathan Hale, who, as he was about to be hung during the American Revolution, said, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” America’s history is full of hero’s like Nathan Hale.  We have a great heritage that we should cherish and keep close at heart.

What was, and is, so great about this nation that caused men to give up their very lives to preserve it?  Ronald Reagan described it best when he said, “We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to stand for something - for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to.”   Patrick Henry said, "Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God, I know not what course others may take, but give me liberty or give me death!"  Patrick Henry knew and understood what it was like to live without freedom.   This is something that I think people today are failing to grasp.  We are so accustomed to the abundant freedom we have, that we can’t even imagine life otherwise.  Let’s revive our American patriotism, let us look back and remember why our forefathers fought for our freedom.  We need to carry this incredible legacy down from generation to generation.

Every year at this time we celebrate with spectacular firework displays, bands, parades, and backyard Bar-B-Q’s.  These are all great ways to celebrate, but let us never get so caught up in the celebrations that we forget what we are celebrating – America’s freedom.  This gives us the right to dream, and to pursue our dreams.  Hold fast to your dreams; if you ever give up your dreams you give up your future.  America is a nation that was built on a dream, a dream of freedom.  This dream became a reality over two hundred years ago on July 4, 1776.  This is what was, and always will be, worth dying for.

May God Bless America!  And may we always be free!

Seth Weathers

“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.”

-Ronald Reagan – Normandy, France, June 6, 1984

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