Courage displayed by all soldiers

We just celebrated our country's 238th Independence Day. Kudos to everyone who planned Cedar Rapids' activities for 2014.

As I was driving down First Avenue on July Fourth, I passed the new fire station and right in front was displayed a huge United States flag and it was beautiful.

I got all choked up and filled up with pride thinking about my great-grandfather, William Henry Harrison McDowell, who served in the Civil War.

At 20 years old he enlisted with the Grand Army of the Republic and was a member of the 15th Kentucky Infantry-Company H. He served three years and three months for the North. I read that in his infantry of 1,000 men, the man on either side of him died.

I wanted to publicly thank him for enduring such a bloody war (as all wars are) and thank him for my freedom today. I would like to thank all soldiers past and present for their courage and bravery as well. God bless you, great-grandpa.

Vonda Birchmier

Cedar Rapids