Freedom is not free

I believe freedom is not free, but a price that must be paid so that democracy may live on long after my time on this earth has passed. I entered the United States Army at 18 years old, believing that it was going to be a smooth career, chance to see the world as was the popular saying of the time. My belief was that I would never have to pay for freedom as the country had not seen a conflict since the early 90’s and peace had unchanged during the better part of my first two years in service. Then it happened Sept. 11th 2001, a day that I have played in my head from time to time for the past 8 years. No longer was it young service men and women going to some distant land this was home! As the days turned into months and then years many more service men and women have gone and died for their country, I see the anti war protest on TV, and read about how America is a country of bullies. Then I go back to my belief that freedom is not free, it was paid by the thousands of human beings that faced their end on that September morning, from the three thousand plus in the Twin Towers in New York, too the one hundred eighty nine in Washington and the one thirty on a plane over Pennsylvania, we owe it to them and the millions that have gave their last breath in defense of democracy. Freedom is not free; in so holding firm to this belief I enjoy the heighted security at airports and other areas that encompass my daily life. I believe in the need for stronger national security and by doing so help keep this nation free, free from the evil that lays within the shadows of the world waiting once again for a chance to rock America at its core, so I stand here on watch ready and willing to pay the price of freedom.