This past Independence Day, the music minister at my church wanted to sing this Mark Schultz song as a special. He wanted a little more than just him singing the song, so he asked me to put together a little video to go along with the song. After compiling many, many, many wartime and soldier photos and images, this was the final production that I put together.
This video was used as a salute to all of our soldiers, both past and present, for their service in defending our country and spreading freedom and hope through all the world.
While I was making this video there were many friends and family members who were either stationed in or had just returned from combat in the middle east. A first-cousin of my wife is in the Marines and was involved in actions during the initial advancements of the “Shock and Awe” phase of Operation: Iraqi Freedom. My father-in-law was in the middle east as a part of a security assessment team following “Shock and Awe,” securing U.S. buildings and places of interest in some seven middle-eastern countries. One of my sisters-in-law is in the reserves, but has yet to be activated. A family friend had been stationed in Iraq for over 10 months, and had been away from home for over 3 years. He never had the opportunity to see this video, as he was still in Iraq during the 4th of July (when it was first played), and the only other time it has been played congregationally was during his funeral.
Many soldiers, and their families, have sacrificed their lives, thier money, their time, their talents, their visions, their futures and more so that we may know and experience freedom every day of our lives.
To all soldiers, both past and present, and their families we thank you for your service and sacrifice to defend and uphold the rights and freedoms afforded to the citizens of the United States of America, and the advancement of freedom and freedom from bondage to those throughout the world.
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