What Does Freedom Mean to You?

Gold Star Families Memorial

The United States lost a hero this week. Hershel “Woody” Williams was a Medal of Honor recipient, a Marine, a West Virginia native, and the last survivor of an intense, violent 36-day battle for U.S. control of a small island named Iwo Jima. It is considered one of the bloodiest battles in Marine history, with nearly 7,000 Marines dead and more than 20,000 wounded. The island’s capture opened a path for the U.S. to invade Okinawa and helped to end World War II seven months later. His legacy lives on through the Woody Williams Foundation which honors Gold Star Families across the United States. These are the families whose loved ones gave their lives to preserve our freedoms.

Woody Williams demonstrated extreme bravery and sacrifice in the face of unfavorable odds and he did this for an ideal: freedom. On July 4th, Americans will celebrate 246 years of freedom. We fought a war for the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition our government. Had this new nation not been successful, we could have a very different concept of freedom.

Freedomitself is an empowering word. Americans have the power to act, speak or think as we choose, without hinderance; to determine who and what we are and will become without foreign or domestic domination or interference; and to regularly invest in defining and redefining ourselves through a fair and free electoral process. Our founders thought these freedoms so essential to our existence that they wrote them into our Constitution.

Recent events have given us the perfect opportunity to consider how we exercise our freedoms individually and in service to each other. For Woody Williams, it meant potentially sacrificing his life on a small, volcanic island, 7,000 miles from home so that harm would not come any closer to, and in fact could be driven back from, American territory. For each of us, freedom can mean something different. But being American is being able to exercise our freedoms in ways that we determine, while ensuring that all Americans can share in those same freedoms.

I am so very proud of the way of MSTI employees uphold the ideal of freedom through their service to our customers in the Military District of Washington, locations in all 50 States, and several OCONUS locations. Our solutions are based on client goals and our service embodies the MSTI Motto: YourVision–OurMission. We serve on a variety of programs that secure American infrastructure, intellectual property, virtual borders, and care for veterans. Our leadership team, program managers, contract employees, and support staff offer a level of customer service that generates accolades from each agency, department, and division where we work.

On this Fourth of July, I salute every American who carries a mantle of courage, who demonstrates selfless service and bravery, and who works tirelessly to ensure all Americans remain safe, secure, and free.

Norris C. Middleton, President/CEO, Management Support Technology, Inc.