What makes America worth fighting for?

7/5/2009
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Maybe it s because America is the land of the free that it s also the home of the brave. Ever since the Founding Fathers declared certain truths to be self-evident in the Declaration of Independence signed 233 years ago yesterday people have fought to keep them that way.

Most of the soldiers were just regular people, emboldened by a love of liberty and comforted by the knowledge that they risked everything for a country that, despite its faults, is truly special. As a reminder that this weekend is about more than fireworks and cookouts, The Blade asked local veterans, past and present, what makes America worth fighting for.

Ryan E. Smith