As I tried deciding what to call this post, Peter, Paul and Mary's singing seemed to thunder through my ears. The hostages in Columbia, in South America getting free seems almost amazing, especially since we just celebrated all that's defined by the word, Freedom. More stories are still coming about the rescue. So I won't perhaps repeat much you already know, except a few things about freedom.

Ingrid Betancourt, one of those held many years, sent a message to the many still captive. She said their getting free proves there is a God, and someday they also will get out. Then she encouraged them even more with "Don't let yourself be conquered by sadness". I call their rescue amazing, and it is. It's like Bible stories, maybe about Saint Paul, and close calls he had, and the unusual people God chose to help prison door locks fall off.

More stories I've noticed around this fourth of July speak of other things that can imprison. This story is in the Denver newspapers. A veteran who fought in Iraq and his wife are soon to have a home in Colorado, thanks to a group who build houses for needy veterans. This house will have everything he needs, wheelchair ramps, all that stuff, because the war paralyzed him.

The house isn't finished and there's more delay. Someone tore into a shed there, where volunteers building the house store tools they use, and stole them. We probably can't imagine all the problems this young couple has already dealt with, and this theft, at the fourth of July didn't add happy reasons to celebrate, it seemed.

As soon as the story of the theft aired, a big burly carpenter wearing one of those things around his hips they carry tools in, showed up and put new locks on the shed, and the nearest Home Depot is replacing all the stolen tools. A web site is in place for anyone who wants to leave words of encouragement, or some help. When I read about this theft, my reaction was to get really angry, but I've changed my mind about that. Even though it is hard to, I will pray for the thief, or thieves,. This couple at least knows the happiness that caring people brought them. But all the thief got was some replaceable tools.

My first story here told of immense pain and mistreatment, and the hostages not knowing if they'd get out alive. The second part of this post reflects what might have been more helplessness, and disappointment in their fellow Americans.

A mom and dad of another Iraq soldier got the visit all parents pray never comes to them. Only a week before this soldier died in Iraq, he called home, and said "Get us body armor and vehicular armor." The Fox31 story about this soldier says he thought he'd be killed on the road in an unarmored Humvee, and he was.

His father was consumed with guilt and sorrow and burning anger, which he channeled toward the military. He teamed with Sen. Edward Kennedy, to tell Congress how ill-equiped the soldiers are. Then he started a company that develops robotic vehicles that can disable what the enemy kills our soldiers with over there.

He says his creation looks like dune buggies. He calls them "Land Sharks." A few years since starting his company, the dad has good rapport with the military, and got a huge contract from the Pentagon to further develop them. How many soldiers will return alive from this war because this man put his grief to work in a way that helps others. I am thankful I live where the feats of these three stories are encouraged and protected by our government. There is still much to celebate about the fourth, and Old Glory. Happy Birthday America.