Stand watch for freedom

Vigilance is the price of freedom.

There are many who say our freedom has been purchased in blood, and that is in many ways true.

Others say we must preserve our freedoms by exercising them, and in many ways that's true as well.

But it is constant watchfulness that truly preserves our freedoms both at home and abroad.

History teaches us two major lessons in which we failed to remain vigilant. The 65th anniversary of one will be on Dec. 7 of this year, the date when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

There were some who anticipated the attack and warnings that were ignored and in the end thousands of our service personnel paid the price.

We observe the fifth anniversary of the other on Monday. The horror of Sept. 11, 2001, is still with us today.

Volumes have been written about the responsibility for the destruction of the World Trade Center on that day. We leave that debate to historians.

For us, it is enough to know that the barbarians are always at the gate, probing our weaknesses and learning what they can to help their effort to bring down our republic.

It is up to all of us to remain vigilant for the sake of future generations. That is the legacy we can leave them to preserve the freedoms we now enjoy.