On
Independence Day, we are also mindful that the promises of the
Declaration have been secured by the service and sacrifice of every
generation. America's first defenders were mostly farmers, artisans, and
shopkeepers who waged a desperate fight for independence. Our Union was
preserved through the costly battles of the Civil War -- including one
at Vicksburg that ended on Independence Day, 1863. And we live in
freedom because Americans prevailed in the hard-fought struggles of the
20th century, from the Marne and Normandy to Iwo Jima and Inchon Bay.
America is home to 25 million military veterans -- and we will always be
grateful for their unselfish courage.
Today, a new generation of Americans is defending our freedom against
determined enemies. At posts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world,
our men and women in uniform are taking the fight to the terrorists
overseas, so that we do not have to face the terrorists here at home.
And by freeing millions from oppression, our Armed Forces are redeeming
a universal principle of the Declaration that all are created equal, and
all are meant to be free. Those who serve today are taking their
rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our
nation's uniform.
The burden of war falls especially hard on military families, and I
thank them for the support they give our troops in their vital work.
Some of America's finest men and women have given their lives in the war
on terror, and we remember them on Independence Day. We pray for the
families who have lost a loved one in freedom's cause. And we know that
the best way to honor the lives that have been given in this struggle is
to complete the mission, so we will stay in the fight until the fight is
won.
In this time of testing, all our troops and their families can know
that the American people are behind them. On this Fourth of July
weekend, I ask every American to find a way to thank men and women
defending our freedom -- by flying the flag, sending letters to our
troops in the field, and helping the military family down the street.
The Department of Defense has set up a website - AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community.
At this time when we celebrate our freedom, we will stand with the men
and women who defend us all.
In the summer of 1776, John Adams called the American Revolution "the
most complete, unexpected, and remarkable of any in the history of
nations." And 229 years later, history has proved him right. The Fourth
of July is a day to be proud of our heritage as freedom's home and
defender. It is a day to be confident in the future, because the spirit
of our founders still shapes the conscience of our country. Above all,
it is a day to give thanks to God for His many blessings on America, and
for the privilege to call ourselves citizens of this special land.
I hope all Americans enjoy a memorable and safe Independence Day
celebration. Thank you for listening.
END