KANSAS CITY, Mo. – July 4 marks the birth of our nation and with that a responsibility to remember that America’s first patriots risked everything to fight our War of Independence.
Of the estimated 217,000 Americans who served during the eight-year war, more than 4,400 died in combat and almost 6,200 were wounded. Had they lost, all would have faced execution as traitors, and seized properties would have left their families destitute.
On this 242nd Independence Day, the 1.7 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary asks that all Americans remember the service and sacrifice of those who have gone before, as well as those servicemen and women who continue to protect every freedom and right our nation enjoys today.
Happy birthday, America!