Today is the 16th birthday of one of our youngest readers, my nephew Jordan. Jordan is the first person I can really remember from the time he was a baby until now, when he's nearly an adult.

I turned 16 in the fall of 1987. Ronald Reagan was my President. We were so close to finally defeating the Russians, ending the Cold War and liberating Eastern Europe. It was easy to feel like world was turning the corner and that the battle between freedom and tyranny was over and we had won.

Of course we were wrong. We defeated the Russians, but now we all face the threat of Islamofascists. Once again we learn that we have to be ever-vigilant in defense of liberty.

In the past, young men like Jordan would bear the brunt of that defense. When I was 16, I would never have considered the military as a career option. But now, I might, and I can better understand why kids today might too. I used to think the military is where people who couldn't get into college went. One thing that the last 3 years have done is to make me respect our military more. Those folks are smart. They're not just fighting a war in Iraq, they're helping to rebuild the infrastructure of the country.

I hope we give these people the chance to complete their mission so that the next batch of 16-year olds can live in peace and without fear.