We honor our fallen troops on Memorial Day, all former troops on Veterans’ Day. On the 4th of July, we justly honor their role in winning, and keeping, our independence. Boeing had a full-page ad in the Washington Post on Sunday to “proudly salute the men and women of the armed forces,” and Lockheed and Northrop chimed in Monday.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff notes in his holiday message:
As we enjoy all the traditions and pleasures this singularly American holiday has to offer, I also ask that we take a moment to remember those who have done so much to secure and safeguard our independence throughout our history. Today, more than 200,000 Americans in uniform are deployed in harm’s way, protecting us.
But their mission is only to protect us from people we call enemies, be they Soviets or Osama. There is a deeper unease affecting America today. Our political-military class is over-emphasizing some threats to our well-being, riding the post-9/11 hysteria, while failing to help grapple with others.
Independence from the false sum of all fears – that’s a July 4th wish worthy of fireworks.