Americans recently joined their counterparts around the globe asthe United States soccer team pursued success in the World Cuptournament. Citizens of all nations cheered their respective teamsas they sought to advance in the global event that is held onceevery four years.

Unlike the Olympics, where a variety of events allow for anexpected high level of United States success, the singular sporttournament remains a bit of an unknown for many Americans.Nevertheless, we rooted for our countrymen throughout their WorldCup journey, which ended last Saturday in a 2-1 second-round lossto Ghana.

Today we again have a chance to celebrate our national pride withthe uniquely American Fourth of July holiday, or Independence Dayas it’s also called.

While events like the World Cup and the Olympics offer chances forperiodic patriotism, the feelings and spirit aroused by the Fourthof July should not be limited to one day on the calendar. Afterall, the freedoms envisioned and espoused in the primary documentof the day are enjoyed by all citizens in the U.S. every day of theyear.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are createdequal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certainunalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and thepursuit of happiness ….”

It has been 234 years since a group of colonial patriots signed theDeclaration of Independence to signify the breaking away from underthe rule of the British monarchy. Victory in the AmericanRevolution that followed helped set the stage for the United Statesto become the great nation that it is today.

That greatness has not come without additional conflict, as theUnited States had to intervene in two subsequent world wars andmultiple smaller conflicts. An ongoing War on Terror, with Iraq andAfghanistan being the front lines for fighting, represents thelatest challenge to our desire for freedom.

As we relax and enjoy this day with our families and friends, wewould do well to remember the servicemen and women in the militarywho daily face the dangers of defending freedom around the world.These men and women have seen the positive results and benefits ofa free society and are willing to risk their lives to bring freedomto those in oppressed areas.

Some governments of other countries, to varying degrees, havebought into the “American experiment” and now are allowing theircitizens to enjoy some of the same freedoms as we Americans do.These countries are grasping the golden ring of capitalism and theyare reaping the benefits of a free market and a free society.

Former President Ronald Reagan often likened the United States to a”shining city upon a hill.”

While enemies from within and without would seek to dim itsbrightness, that image endures. And that is the reason we mustcelebrate today and every day.

Happy Fourth of July!