“National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.” – John Adams (1815)

This quote is from a letter to James Lloyd in 1815.

Since the beginning of our nation, it has been thanks to the dedication and service of our military personnel that we have lived the freedoms that we have enjoyed here in the United States of America.  If you see a military member or former military member, please take time to thank them for their service this Memorial Day weekend.  Even if and maybe especially if you find a lot to criticize about out nation, please don’t lose sight of the fact that we owe our freedoms, especially the right of dissent to those of my brothers and sisters who serve and put their lives on the line to practice free speech and otherwise live those freedoms that all of us do.

For me, it was both my honor and privilege to have done so.  And to all my brother and sister service men and women veterans and active duty out there, THANK YOU!!  I mean this from the bottom of my heart.