For Freedom fromtheeditor
T 10 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2011
This Fourth of July, refl ect on the faith in humanity and political ideals of our nation’s founders, and salute servicemembers who build peace and help preserve our independence.
The July issue of Military Officer would be incomplete without a salute to our nation’s birthday: Independence Day, the Fourth of July. This is the date we cel- ebrate our declaration of independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. While preparing this column, I thought I’d toss in some Fourth of July trivia. For example, are we mistaken in celebrating the holiday July 4? The legal separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain happened July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution affi rming the colonies’ inde- pendence. According to the National Ar- chives, the Declaration of Independence (the statement explaining this decision) was printed during the night of July 4, and the fi rst copies were delivered to Congress July 5. On August 2, 1776, dele- gates to the Continental Congress signed the offi cial copy of the document, now on display in the National Archives. John Adams thought the earlier date should be the one to celebrate. In a July 3, 1776, letter to his wife, Abigail, Adams said, “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” Adams was off by two days. But no mat-
ter. What’s important is we set aside time to refl ect on the faith in humanity and the political ideals our nation’s founders ex- pressed in the Declaration of Independence.
As members of the military, we have a
special relationship to Independence Day. We think of those who fought to defend the decision of the Continental Congress. And we honor the service of all men and women in uniform who have battled to preserve independence in the 235 years of our nation’s history. Of course, the uniformed services’ missions go beyond combat action. In our story “Waging Peace,” page 50, we look at other ways America’s fi ghting forces are working to build peace and stabil- ity. Two such missions are humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). In FY 2009, U.S. units conducted 154 humanitarian projects in 61 countries, ac- cording to the Defense Security Coopera- tion Agency. These missions ranged from medical, dental, and veterinary needs to construction projects across Africa and Eastern Europe.
When it comes to disaster response, the
U.S. Agency for International Develop- ment (USAID) takes the lead. It calls on the military for capabilities it cannot get elsewhere. For example, if heavy airlift is needed, USAID will look to the military for help. Check out our story to learn more about HA/DR missions. Enjoy the holiday. And happy 235th
birthday, America!
— Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.
PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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