On today's holiday, I am indulging in one of my favorite pastimes: bridge. On the edge of beautiful downtown Des Moines, I've been playing tournament bridge from roughly 9AM until 11PM - and shall through Sunday, though I rate to be on the road by about 5:30PM the final day. Some may think it nuts to sit at a card table, calculating the odds of distribution, and weighing the idiosyncratic preferences of bridge players from around the nation. I, however, would rather be few other places.
It is my good fortune to have a career that allows me the freedom to take off occasionally for such pursuits. And it is my further good fortune to be living in a nation that has a wealth of opportunities for all - if they only appreciate it.
How did we all get so lucky? See here.
IN 1776, 56 men pledged their ' lives," their " fortunes," and their "sacred honor" to the cause of
American Independence. They also pledged the lives of 200,000 other Americans as well -- men of the Continental Army who volunteered to serve in one of longest and costliest wars in US history. More than 25,000 soldiers died during the war. In proportion to the US population today, that number equates to more than 3 million dead. The number of soldiers wounded between 1775 and 1783 can only be guessed at, but it is certain that their numbers exceeded greatly the number of deaths. Soldiers who fought for our independence endured terrible hardships. Valley Forge is the most infamous purgatory, but there were many Valley Forges. It was a near miracle that this tattered, ill-fed and often neglected army was able to defeat Great Britain, the world's greatest super power.
All of us who have enjoyed the fruits of this great nation owe these soldiers a debt of gratitude. Thank you to them - and happy Fourth of July to all!
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