Freedom. The ability to walk outside your door and know that you are safe, and you and your family can enjoy the day to it’s fullest. Have a cookout, play catch. Sox vs. Yanks on the radio. Sam Adams on ice. For many, this is taken for granted.

Freedom. Too often you will see the minivan with a yellow magnet as they ‘support our troops’. Of course, they display this while they head off to the local PTA meeting to vote to restrict to ensure the local High School restrict the military Recruiters from talking to any of it’s students.

Freedom. Taken for granted by some. However, there are those that are tasting what exactly this is. Well, like many before me - and many more to follow. This, holiday, and the Freedom to enjoy it, is ensured and defended by the United States Armed Forces. This picture speaks for itself:

(credit and props to Soldiers’ Angels Germany)

U.S. Army Task Force Regulators 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Fred Hampton, of Lexington, Ky., kneels on a knee to talk with a young Iraqi boy at the future site of Regular 6 Park in the Thawra 1 section of the Sadr City District of Baghdad on June 20. Photo: Tech Sgt. Cohen Young, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.

In Sadr City.

There are no words to express everything conveyed by this photo. To me, it represents the highest ideals of our country and our guys, and the hopes and aspirations of the Iraqi people.

This is why we fight.

Sorry for the lack of entries, but just coming off the Djibouti Flu since SAT evening. My temp was hovering around 103 to 104. Lasted about 4 days straight. The good news? It was lower than the temps outside. You can see below what the temp reads - with the ‘real feel’ in the sun over 140...