Today, we're 232 years old if my math is correct. That is also the age my family has been in this country.

We started off as colonists. My dad's side is traceable all the way to the 1760-1770's on these grounds.

Here we are today. Five generations ago we had one or two soldiers in the Civil War. December 7, 1942: Seaman 2nd Class Leland Good (my great uncle) gave his life onboard the USS Arizona. My uncle served in the Vietnam War. Another served in Korea. I have a cousin returning to today's war in September. My girlfriend's Army ship date is July 27. I have three or four planning on the service, and so am I. My dad signed on to be a medic, but wasn't able to go because of knee surgery. My cousin's step father was a crew member to an Abrams during Desert Storm.

My family has rich American ties. I actually have majority American blood in me. For over two hundred years, we've saluted the red and white stripes beside the blue field of stars. The only time we've ever really left this country was to fight a war. We settled into this country as immigrants from Scotland, England, and Ireland when it was only a colony. We've been here ever since!