We have just celebrated Memorial Day. This day was declared and set aside, originally, to honor all those who served and died in the defense of our nation. It has been expanded to include, not only memorializing the men and women who have died in the defense of our nation and culture, but to honor all those who served in days gone by or are serving today. It has also been expanded to include a formal recognition of family and friends, whether they served militarily or not.

I have received several emails urging me to become actively involved in flag waving and eulogizing the military causalities and the need to heap praises upon those actively serving today. Most of them expand the idea that our military might is what has created and protected our freedoms.

I fully agree that we owe those who have served or are serving our recognition of the sacrifice and dedication of all who gave up their civilian freedoms to serve. But I disagree with the indication that it is only the military who have given us our freedoms and protected them.

My Dad and Uncles served during WW 1 and an Uncle and Brother served during WW 2. Two Brothers served during the Korean conflict. I was born at the right time and there were no active conflicts during the time of my military service. Is all of that military service the total of my family's protection of freedom? Absolutely not!

The exercising of voting on political representatives in our government system; serving on local boards needed to provide and protect the systems of local government; volunteering time and finances to charitable programs, both religious and civic — are all an essential part of protecting our freedom.

The inspiration and dedication of our religious leaders, civic community leaders, public educators (especially history teachers), etc. are vitally important in the maintenance of a culture that perpetuates our freedoms.

One of those recent emails declared that it was not the preacher, the reporter, the poet, the campus organizer, the lawyer nor the politician that has given and protected all our rights. All the credit was given to the Veteran. If that is true, then we live under military rule and the top man in the chain of command (the President) is our benefactor and he can determine our needs and privileges.

That was not the intention of those men who led in the struggle to overcome the oppression of a system of government that took more from the masses of people than it gave. Neither a military nor a sectarian dominated system of governance was the intention of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and finally, our Nation's Constitution. The military were explicitly forbidden to exercise authority or control without the express request and permission of the people. The formal authority or involvement of sectarian or religious authority within the government was plainly forbidden.

Who then is responsible for protecting our freedoms? Do you remember that introductory phrase to one of our historical documents? "We the people — —" That means you and me. That means the "Doctor", the "Lawyer", the "Candlestick Maker". Every citizen, regardless of wealth or stature has on obligation to speak out in public forum, vote in public elections, and contribute their talents to the cause of freedom.

I am proud to be a citizen of this United States of America. I am proud to declare dissatisfaction as well as heaping of praise on our military or political leaders. I am proud to declare my trust in God and invoke, through prayer, his blessings on this Nation and Her people. I am also proud to declare the privilege and right of all our citizens, regardless of their religious loyalties or ethnic backgrounds, to praise or criticize our culture or government.