235 years ago in Philadelphia, delegates from the 13 original colonies did something that would echo throughout history. In fact, if it were not for their resolute mindedness in the matter, Americans may be speaking in a British accent right now. It was a war that needed to be fought. These days, people can pick and choose what wars should be fought or not but the Revolutionary War was one that had to be started and needed to be won.
Tens of thousands lost their lives to ensure we have the luxuries we enjoy today. It all started with our forefathers; the Thomas Jeffersons, the Ben Franklins, the John Adamses and the George Washingtons. Their sacrifices and those of the soldiers and their families carved the path for the life we live today. It is so easy to forget how lucky we are when it comes to our indpendence. There was a point in the Revolutionary War where George Washington was in the sights of a British soldier, however it was not in the customs of a British common soldier to take the life of a high-ranking officer in any wartime skirmish. If he would have taken that shot, the war may have turned out differently. America did not extend the same courtesy to the British as we took every shot at officers we could because of the attrocities committed by the British. We did what we had to do to win our independence.
The same rules apply today with our soldiers fighting around the world. We cannot and should not take for granted that our liberty is something that is "owed" to us because it is not. It is something that is earned. Our men and women and their families have given so much throughout the past few centuries for us to just forget the little things. Take the time out every day to remember the past and present because it is just as important as tomorrow.