SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- Freedom!...the word that inspired the birth of our great nation. On July 4th, our Nation celebrates 225 years of freedom which, as most readers of this message will know, has not come easy. For, as the men and women who serve in the U.S. military are so often reminded, freedom is a precious commodity and, once gained, must constantly be guarded and defended.

From Concord to Antietam, from the Normandy beaches to Kuwait, many battles have been fought to preserve the rights guaranteed by our Declaration of Independence--life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Over the years, countless men and women have given their lives to ensure that we can enjoy those rights. Because of their unselfish sacrifices, the dream of freedom has spread around the world.

United States Transportation Command continues to play a significant role in turning the dream of freedom into reality for hundreds of thousands of people, in hundreds of countries, around the globe. Almost daily, a USTRANSCOM plane lands on a foreign airfield, or a ship arrives in a foreign port, bringing hope for the oppressed and safety for the endangered. On this July 4th holiday, let us never forget that the price for freedom is great but, even more, that it is a price worth paying.

To the soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, airmen and civilians of United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, Military Sealift Command and Military Traffic Management Command, I thank you and salute you. Whether you are enjoying the holiday with family and friends or standing watch in the air, at sea or on a distant shore, know that, as guardians of our freedom, you have my sincerest thanks and greatest respect.