A reason to be thankful Published Dec. 4, 2012 By Lt. Col. Matt Daack 22nd Operations Support Squadron MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Two weeks ago, we kicked off the holiday season with a truly wonderful American tradition: Thanksgiving Day. I hope the choice to be thankful extends well beyond that day because we have much to be thankful for as Americans. Most notably is the opportunity we had at the beginning of last month to openly and peacefully cast our vote for everything from who will lead our nation to whether or not we will have fluoride in our water. You may be over the moon about the results of the election or you may not be, but the fact that every citizen of our country is free to voice personal convictions in a meaningful way is not common; it is a blessing. Of course, this type of freedom comes at a great price: strenuous training, separation from people we love and, for some, debilitating injury or loss of life. For these reasons, not everyone can or should choose to accept the burden and privilege of preserving our liberty through military service, but someone must. Someone must bear the mantle of service and leadership required to project power across the globe to protect our freedom. I am proud to say that I serve with those people daily. When our nation has said, "Who will go for us?" The men and women of McConnell Air Force Base and their families have said, "Here I am. Send me." That is not an easy choice, but it is a choice worthy of recognition and thanks.