Joshua Anderson History 1700 Jessy Feveryear November 30, 2013 What topic in your study of US history was

most influential for you and why? How will a better understanding of US history influence your future? The Revolutionary War has always been an important topic for me, but as I studied history this semester I felt like it pierced my soul differently than it had in the past. I felt the constant ring of freedom from tyranny and oppression was a theme within my studies. In November I flew to Tacoma, Washington to McChord Air Force Base and while there I heard from Brigadier General James E. Sehorn, a Vietnam prisoner of war for five years, he left me with a lot of soul searching thoughts from his experiences. He also left me with a quote that has changed my outlook on life, he said, To be born free is an accident. To live free is a privilege. To die free is a responsibility. That quote perfectly describes the republic for which we stand, (United States Pledge of Allegiance). We as Americans, born into this free country, owe our lives to those brave men and women who suffered against all odds to stand up against a tyrant with an insurmountable Army and Navy. Those men and women were unfortunately not born free, but they made a choice to stand together to live free and create a new nation from the knowledge that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, (Declaration of Independence). Within this new nation they would cultivate a land where living free would no longer need to be fought for, but would be a privilege and a gift that their ancestors so graciously gave. By understanding our founding fathers and the trails they endured for freedom can and should influence us to pursue freedom and if necessary fight for freedom. Unfortunately, like

those in the past, our government has become corrupt, from Democrats to Republicans. Political parties once ruled by the people, have now become ruled by businesses and political policies. The will of the people is now pressured by welfare, and government handouts. To win control of the government all that is required is denouncing any ounce of morality and promise the people free items. We are one step closer to being under the rule of another tyrannical government. However, if we learn from history we understand that the founding fathers saw this day coming and included this within the Declaration of Independence as a beacon of hope, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. This is a call to action from those who stood before us, to fight for freedom and liberty. My generation was born free, but in order to secure freedom for our posterity we must fight to be free. And according to General Sehorn, our ultimate responsibility to the future of this nation and to ourselves is to die free.