What does the word liberty mean to you?  Does it bring feelings of patriotism to your mind? Does it stir a feeling of pride in your chest? I hope it does, but I believe that a l0t of Americans take their liberty for granted.

As we reflect back on 2009, I want us to take a look at what liberty means to us and what are we willing to do to preserve it. Too often we forget the real cost of our liberty in America.  By that I mean the cost in blood.

Since the first spill of blood at Lexington with the shot heard round the world our liberty has been bought and paid for with the blood of brave young men and women.  The are Americans who understand that liberty is not free. They come from the farms of Kansas, the Mountains of Tennessee, the inner city in Chicago, and from all over this great land.

Why do they come whenever we need them? They come because, they like me, believe in something bigger than themselves.  They come because their grandfather served in World War II, their dad served in Korea and their Uncle served in Viet Nam.  They come knowing full well they may have to pay the ultimate price to secure our liberty.

These are men and women who are willing to be separated from loved ones and friends in order to go to foreign lands if that is what it takes to protect their home town from attack.  They proudly put their life on the line so that future generations can enjoy liberty.

I know how they feel, as many of my readers do, because we have served in their boots.  My time in the United States Marines merely strengthened the strong feelings 0f patriotism and the desire to live in liberty that my Mother and others instilled in me.  These feelings and sense of patriotism have endured throughout my adult life.  I am no less committed to liberty today than I was then.

So when we look back on 2009, do we really stop to think about what the cost of our liberty was in blood?  We should. This cost must never be taken for granted.

According to sources on the internet 150 US service men and women lost their lives in Iraq during 2009. The total lost in Afghanistan for the year was 319.  In 2009, we lost 469 brave men and women who were willing to stand for liberty no matter what the cost.

We must not forget the wounded warriors who came home with scars for life.  These are the ones who paid the price with the loss of a limb or other life changing wounds.  They will live with their sacrifice for the rest of their lives. We owe them such a debt of gratitude that it can not be put it in to words.

So how should we show our gratitude for their service and their loss? I could fill pages with suggestions. Here are a few:

Volunteer at your local Veterans Hospital or center.

The next time you are out to eat and you see someone in uniform, call the waitress over and  ask them to give you their ticket.

Thank every person you see in uniform for preserving our liberty.

Help a service members family while they are deployed.

Support to the USO.

Register to vote and do so at every opportunity.

Say a prayer for our men and women in uniform every day.

Take a stand for liberty here at home.

These are just a few simple ways you can show your gratitude.  As we move into 2010, and face the challenges it will bring, I think it only fitting to remember those who have paid the price of liberty with their blood.

As a Christian, I know my salvation is bought and paid for with the blood of my Lord and Savior.  As an American, I know that my liberty has been bought and paid for with the blood of the men and women of our Armed Forces both past and present. We must never forget these two truths or take them for granted.