GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- I, Laura Rae Ann McFarlane, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
I originally took this oath Aug. 27, 2002 in Springfield, Massachusetts for a four-year enlistment and now, thirteen years later, I’ve taken the oath again.
I’d like to say that I joined for noble, patriotic reasons. At 21 years old, and still living at home, I needed to create a new path for myself, and the Air Force let me do just that.
My second time around, I reenlisted to see the world. The Air Force gave me the awesome opportunity to serve first as a photographer than as a photojournalist in several locations including California, Japan and finally here at Goodfellow with a brief “vacation” to Afghanistan after which I reenlisted again.
As I head into the Fourth of July weekend, I reflect on patriotism, the love, support and defense of one's country. Today I serve for my love of my country, for my family and for my friends.
I am proud to serve as an Airman in the United States Air Force. I am proud of my country and its people. I appreciate that when I am out and about in town in my uniform, I often have people stop and thank me.
As I start on the next chapter of my career, I look forward to continuing to serve my country and her people.
As Lee Greenwood, country music singer, put it, “And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend Her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.”
Happy Fourth of July.