No, I did not serve in the military.

No, I cannot imagine what you are going through

or what you have gone through.

Know that I appreciate the freedom

that you have afforded me.

May God Bless You and Keep You

Bill Wade
U.S. Citizen

The honest truth:

I never considered serving in the military except for maybe a few brief moments late in high school. In retrospect, I am certain that I could have done a lot worse than to join.

However, I did know myself pretty well by the time I graduated and I had already figured out that being told what to do didn't appeal to me much. I'm not saying that you enjoy it either, not at all, but you obviously can at least tolerate it.

I jumped into the corporate world with both feet. It was a much softer ride than what you have done but it did have it's share of bumps.

I have spent as many years now self employed as I have in the corporate world and I must say that self employed and me get along much better.

This past week, (early 2008), I was driving my pickup down the street and it just kind of hit me that I really am FREE.

I had been out in the country working on a truck in an old barn. I didn't have to ask permission to be on the road or permission to leave town. I could just come and go as I please and I thought about how wonderful that really is.

Like too many of us, I have and do take it for granted. But for a few minutes there, I did take the time to reflect on what it really means to be FREE and why I am free when others are not.

I am free because I am lucky enough to be an American Citizen. I am free because you were or are willing to fight for and preserve my freedom.

I can't thank you enough.

Bill