United States Air Force Academy Colorado Springs - Polaris Yearbook

“" WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tran- quility, provide for the common defense, promote the general wel- fare, and secure the blessings of liberty of ourselves and our poster- ity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. ' ' - Preamble of the U.S. Constitution Our forefathers gave us our rights as people and a nation in the Constitution. Since 1 787, we have defended those rights as principles we believe so strongly in that we are willing to give up our lives for their preservation. In 177b, the Declaration or in- dependence declared free- dom for all of the United States and its people from the tyr- anny of Old World rule. Eleven years later, the Constitution of the United States was formed. This important document estab- lished the individual rights of each and every citizen. It ' s the embodiment of the democratic and republican principles on which we pride our heritage. This year is the 200th anniversary of our Constitution. This anniversa- ry serves to remind us, the na- tion ' s military, of our commit- ment to defend it against all ene- mies, foreign and domestic, and to always bear true faith and alle- giance to it. The legacy that our Constitu- tion gives us is a very important part of our ability to prepare for, meet and surpass challenges which the military and its mem- bers face. Throughout the past two centuries, the Army and navy have held the challenge of na- tional defense very high. They have met that through adequate preparation, development of technology, and individual hero- ism and selflessness. Through their own desire to maintain American freedom, they have pulled together through a variety of times both good and bad. They have survived because of their ability to pull in knowledge: keep the good and throw out the bad. They have succeeded in their mission so far. OPENING 3 ”