Red, White & Beige

Happy Independence Day.

Today as families around the nation gather in backyards for barbecues and head to the beach for fun in the sun, it shouldn't be too much to ask for reflection on what it means to be American.

Most of us go around without thinking too much about it and that's how it should be. But when you live on an army post, you begin to appreciate the cost of freedom.

I was in the library on post the other day and sitting across from me was a young soldier, a private, wearing his newly issued beige uniform. He could not have been older than 20. He's probably just a teenager. The beige uniform means he's going to Iraq. He made a decision a few months ago to join the army. Maybe for money, maybe for the challenges, maybe opportunity, maybe all or some combination of all three. And his story would not be so unique from another soldier's but ask them about why they joined up, and there's always one answer they all have in common: They want to give something back to their country. Indeed, my own husband has stated this as one of the main reasons he joined.

There's alot of beige around on post these days. The soldiers of the 2nd Brigade have just returned from Iraq and still wear their DCU's. The soldiers in the next brigade who are going overseas to continue the fight in the War on Terror, are also wearing DCU's. You can't go more than 10 feet without seeing someone wearing beige. And you begin to think about the bigger picture. That uniform means one year of his life will be spent in a country fighting insurgents and boredom in 100 plus degree heat. Maybe he's got a family who will be here, hoping and praying for his safety. Alot happens in a year: birthdays, anniversaries -- all kinds of milestones both big and small. But ask him why he's going and he'll give you the answer my husband gave me of why he went to Iraq: he'll go so the rest of us don't have to. It is what is done to defend freedom -- our freedoms.

Happy 229th Birthday, America. May you have many, many more.