Conservative Corner: The Price for Freedom

America is a wonderful place. The freedom to speak and gather without concern of punishment from government or royalty, the freedom for us to keep and bear arms without confiscation from an overbearing authority, and the freedom to worship(or not) any deity you wish without fear persecution.

However, even though in the eyes of some conservative groups these freedoms seem to be threatened, there is a group of exceptional people who tirelessly and selflessly put their lives at risk every day and are prepared to pay the ultimate price to defend the freedom of Americans. These incredible individuals are the defenders of our country and our liberties; they are the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and US Marines, They are the United States Armed Forces.

The beginning of our armed forces goes back to 1747 as www.u-s-history.com tells us. This unit was commanded under the British Crown at that time, but it was manned by American colonists. It was the first all-American armed unit. The American Army continued to be small groups of men using ambush and guerilla techniques; however the military we know today got its start on June 14 1775 with the establishment of the Continental Army. The very next day George Washington was chosen as Commander in Chief and commanded ten rifle companies.

The Navy’s history is almost as old as the Army’s. The Navy sees its original birthday as October 13 1775 when The Continental Congress approved the Continental Navy, but when the war for independence ended the ships were sold and Continental Navy was disbanded, however, eleven years later American merchant ships were trying to deal with pirates in the Mediterranean Sea which created the Navel Act of 1794. For the next twenty years the Navy used just 6 frigates in battles.

The Air Force, according to www.hill.af.mi, is the youngest of the US Armed Forces. It was originally called The Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps when in was formed on August 1st 1907. For the next several years’ service men test flew planes and even delivered the US mail. But then on June 4^th, 1920 The Army Reorganization Bill was approved. This created an Air Service with its own servicemen. On June 20^th 1941 The United States Army Air Forces was created, then on the 18^th of September, 1947 the Air Force we know today was born and all air actives that the Army was doing at that time was transferred to the Air Force.

The Marines have also been around for a while. The Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10, 1775 when a committee of the Continental Congress met at a tavern in Philadelphia and wrote up a draft calling for 2 battalions of Marines to fight on ships and on the shores during the fight for independence. In 1800 there were 368 Marines, 343 Enlisted; 25 Officers. Today the Marines total more than 204,153. The Marines have been known to be a special force in the US military with specialized and more intense tactical training than most other branches. According to www.marines.com/history-heritage, “Our purpose, by congressional mandate, is to be this nation's rapid response force; we are thus called to be "most ready when the nation is least ready."

No matter what your opinion is of the US Military, they are defenders of our freedoms, and guaranty our rights. Like anywhere else, not all military people serve their country proudly, but all military people have taken an oath, “I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Some milestones do exist in the military. On July 26, 1948, an executive order was signed that forbid discriminating against military personnel because of race, color, religion, or national origin. The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed into law by President Truman on June 12, 1948 allowing women to join the regular Army.  In December 2010 President Obama signed the bill lifting restrictions on gay, lesbian, and bisexual personnel.

Regardless of what you think the US Military does one thing for sure, they protect you and your rights as an American. So the next time you protest or rally in support of anything, just remember, you have that right because it was paid for with the blood of American men and women in the armed service. So please so respect our men and women in uniform and the next time you see one thank them for their service to our country. If you see a disabled vet, thank them for their sacrifice.  God bless our military and God bless America!

                      dkhummel.blogspot.com, dkhummel.com