What Did They Die For?
Independence Day is a big holiday in the United States. But what exactly should we be celebrating? I believe it's the freedom for ALL people.
As we quickly approach celebrating Independence Day in the United States, it feels bittersweet this year.
July 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays, not just for the fireworks and cookouts, but for everything it stands for. It’s a time to reflect on the freedom we enjoy and the sacrifices made to secure it. But it’s also about more than just our country’s history—it’s about togetherness.
Whether you're at a neighborhood BBQ, watching a parade, jumping into a lake, or just sharing a cold beer with friends, Independence Day typically brings people together, regardless of who they are or where they come from. For one day, we put aside our differences to celebrate something bigger than ourselves: our shared identity as Americans.
I have many incredible and fond memories of July 4th, as a child and an adult, especially when it relates to my grandparents and their family. They loved and appreciated their freedom as war survivors and immigrants, and there was never a time they didn’t give thanks for it.
Yet, as we struggle with so much division and hatred in this country at the moment, I wonder if that American Spirit will ever be the same, and whether people today remember what this holiday truly represents.
In recent conversations with different Americans, it’s clear that the ideal of freedom is now for certain people only, though one could argue with our country’s history, whether all people were ever truly free in the first place. Perhaps this honest discussion is best for another time and platform, so let me stop here to focus on what matters at the moment.
Why did they serve or sacrifice their lives?
Over the past thirty years, I’ve had the privilege of befriending and spending time with dozens of World War II Veterans—mostly men, but also some remarkable women. What struck me most wasn’t just their courage, but their humility. None of them ever thought of themselves as heroes. They didn’t seek recognition or praise for what they had done.
When the war ended, they quietly returned to their lives, carrying with them the memories, the scars, and sometimes the invisible wounds of what they had encountered. But they rarely spoke of it. Instead, they focused on building families and communities, as well as investing their efforts to ensure the freedom they fought for would endure for future generations.
Whenever I asked these veterans why they were willing to risk their lives for our country or to help liberate people in places they had never been, their answers were almost immediate and almost always the same:
It was the right thing to do!
To them, it was simply their duty - something that had to be done - and they answered the call without hesitation.1
They held a deep, unwavering belief in the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They believed that every man and woman deserved the opportunity to live in freedom, without the evil shadow of tyranny surrounding them. And they were willing to lay down their lives to defend those ideals, whether the fight was on American soil or in distant lands far from home.
I cannot say with certainty that every World War II veteran fought with the same altruistic motivations or belief system, but in all my conversations with those I spoke with, it was always mentioned that they fought for the freedom of all people, not just some of them.
This is a very important distinction to make.
In today’s culture, I don’t believe this sentiment rings true, and sadly, I doubt most of the Americans who proclaim themselves as patriots and defenders of the Constitution would lay down their lives so that everyone could be free.
For many, their version of freedom stops at the boundaries of race, religion, sexuality, nationality, or political affiliation, thus eliminating the foundational rights guaranteed to the people in this country, while contradicting the very values these patriotic Americans profess to hold dearly.
What a crying shame!
Rather than trying to exclude people from the inalienable rights they are promised, our nation should turn its focus towards the fascism, authoritarianism, and antisemitism running rampant in this country — the very things our WWII veterans sacrificed their lives to fight against!
Because if we don’t, their sacrifices have all been in vain.
Let us celebrate and protect freedom for all.
As we celebrate Independence Day in the United States this week, we must remember that freedom should be afforded to all who call this place home.
And let us be united in our belief to keep it that way!
Human rights should never stop because of nationality, skin color, sexual preference, religious beliefs, or political affiliation. If we refuse to stand against these injustices, then we as a nation or a global community are opening the door for history to repeat itself, and ultimately spitting upon the very graves of those who died to protect the freedom we now enjoy.
My friends, please know this is not about politics.
It’s about us doing the right thing.
Just like the heroes we honor on this website.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Because this website is focused on WWII and the Screaming Eagles, my thoughts are based on the experiences of these veterans. However, I believe it is worth mentioning that veterans from every era have served, or made the ultimate sacrifice, to protect our freedom and way of life.