Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

  • Published
  • By Col. Joel D. Jackson
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. 

It took great courage on the part of our forefathers to stand up for the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  The founding fathers were driven to fight for freedom for the betterment of the people of the colonies and for a future nation embodying undeniable rights.  Regardless of the outcome, regardless of the consequences, and regardless of the cost to themselves or to their families, the Founding Fathers chose to fight tyranny because it was their duty.

This Fourth of July, as you reflect on the sacrifices of those who came before us, take a moment to reflect on your role and the charge that you have shouldered.  Although 239 years have passed, we are still faced with threats against our freedom.  Each of you is important in the battle against these threats of tyranny, oppression and terror. We fight to preserve freedom, promote democracy and defend our country because it is our duty.

There is a well-known proverb that states the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  At Travis Air Force Base, California, those parts can be thought of as our Airmen, airplanes and infrastructure.  Each of these parts have value on their own, but when these parts come together in one place, at one time, for one purpose, amazing things can happen. 

On a daily basis, it may be hard to see the impact that Travis has around the world, but we are all a part of a larger vision that always will go back to maintaining our freedom and our way of life.  The president of the United States makes decisions of national importance and the capabilities of our military and our Air Force weigh into those decisions.  By focusing our attentions and resources on the mission, both today and tomorrow, developing our Airmen while caring for their families and fostering a culture of excellence, we stand ready to answer our nation's call.

Celebrate America's birthday this year with friends and family and remember why we serve and who we do it for.  You are all part of something much bigger than yourselves and you should take great pride in your contributions to preserving peace and freedom at home and abroad.

Thank you for making the choice to serve this great nation, defend our freedom, and continue our history of excellence.  With men and women like we have stationed at Travis, it is easy to understand how we are the land of the free and home of the brave.  I am honored to serve beside you.