Every year on the Fourth of July, we gather. We watch fireworks light the sky, we wave flags, and we celebrate the birth of a nation built on an extraordinary idea that freedom is worth fighting for. But honoring that freedom requires more than a backyard barbecue. It requires memory with purpose.

Like many Americans, I understand sacrifice, having served over 23 years in the Army Reserve and the Iowa Army National Guard, including a deployment to Kuwait and Iraq as a company commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I led troops in harm’s way and came home when others didn’t. I have informed loved ones when their sons died in the line of duty. Those experiences shape everything about how you see the world, how you choose to serve your country, and what your country means to you.