Last night I saw a special on TV that shared the true story of a man who tried to escape from Romania as an 18 year old, was caught, and was put into a prison camp. Five years later he was released and he started to apply to leave Romania and come to the United States, and freedom. He couldn't get out until the United States and the United Nations put pressure on for Human Rights violations. Then and only them was he given his freedom to come here. He has since built a very successful business making various size "perfect" replicas of the Statue of Liberty for sale around the world as a reminder of that freedom he so proudly expresses. He still cries even talking about his fight to get here and the blessing that he has in that freedom. 

On this day 1996 lets not take that Blessed Freedom for granted, but give thanks that we are still able to make the kinds of choices we do. To be, to go, where ever we want to, to believe freely and to make ourselves all that we can be.