Better Men - July 4th, 2011

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things.
The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling
which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.
The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight,
nothing which is more important than his own personal safety,
is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free
unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
~John Stewart Mill
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Today, I am remembering those "Better Men" who are part of my life, part of my being, part of who I am.  And I am remembering those "Better Men" who gave of themselves and stepped into eternity.  And I am remembering that today is truly a day to remember all of the "Better Men" and to celebrate not just freedom, but those who have given that freedom to us.