Post Messenger Recorder -

When Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner," he called America "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Those words are as true today as they were then.

Throughout this nation's history, America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom, to come to the aid our friends and allies, and to turn back aggressors.

We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the more than 650,000 American service members who died in battle or the 1.4 million who were wounded.

We can, however, recognize and thank the 25...