Independence Day: An American Tradition Published June 30, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AB, Japan -- As Kadena Air Base opens its gates to welcome its friends in the local community to AmericaFest 2008, it does so in celebration and commemoration of the America's 232nd birthday. On July 4, 1776, a group of American patriots signed the Declaration of Independence, signaling the 13 colonies' intention to break from England to form a new country, free from tyranny, where all men are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What followed was seven years of grueling warfare as the fate of the young nation hung in the balance. In the end, an estimated 25,000 Americans gave their lives, but America emerged free from England's rule and ready to chart a new course as a nation guided by liberty, rights, and an enduring sense of civic duty. On Independence Day every year, millions of Americans remember the selfless sacrifices these original patriots made so that their nation could be free. They also honor the many Americans who have given their lives in subsequent conflicts to protect these liberties and the democratic ideals that America holds sacred. The celebration of Independence Day each year really defines who Americans are as a people, said Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander. "We are people who value freedom above all else, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to live our lives in peace," said the general. "And when we say above all else, that is what we mean." Men and women have died for freedom throughout America's history and Independence Day should remind us of their sacrifices, said General Williams. "The Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine of today has sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and if necessary to die in that cause," said the general. "This commitment has not changed since the Revolutionary War." The effects of the American Revolution were not confined to the North American continent. The Revolution influenced Liberal thought throughout Europe and ultimately helped inspire the French Revolution. Today, the American Revolution and its signature document, the Declaration of Independence, still capture worldwide imagination as an example of what a people can accomplish and what obstacles they can overcome in the face of tyranny and oppression. All across America, citizens will honor the birth of their nation with parades, fireworks, baseball games, flags flying, and backyard picnics. As they celebrate, they honor their founding fathers who formed this nation 232 years ago, and they renew their faith in the principles and ideals that this country continues to defend today. Here in Okinawa, the men and women of Kadena Air Base are proud to share their Independence Day traditions with their Japanese friends and to open a window into an important part of American culture at AmericaFest 2008.