July 4^th is a day of celebration—a day to celebrate America’s independence with the time-honored traditions of grilling, slicing up watermelons, and bringing the whole family together for a dusk fireworks show. I have fond childhood memories of those Fourth of July activities. To me, it’s not just an excuse to kick back and relax, but a time to reflect on why I chose to serve my country.

Hi everyone, my name is Elaina Stephenson and I am the new fellow on the Vets for American Ideals team at Human Rights First. I am so excited to dive into this incredible work, but first I’d like to share a bit about me and how I came to be a part of the VFAI community.

Each year on June 20th, we celebrate World Refugee Day. It’s a chance to reflect on the strife of the world’s 65 million displaced individuals, and the service of Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and translators who face danger as a result of their service to the U.S. mission. But its also a day to celebrate the resilience and to honor their contributions to the United States. It’s a time to listen to and raise their voices.

It can start with something as simple as a cup of coffee.  

One of the last lines of the Soldier's Creed is: "I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life."  We raised our right hands not only to defend the constitution, but to protect the concepts of individual liberty, social equality, the pursuit of happiness, and the protection of lives by our government. 

By Wendy Wheeler

Governors from at least eight states are withholding or recalling National Guard troops from efforts to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said, "Until this policy of separating children from their families has been rescinded, Maryland will not deploy any National Guard resources to the border." Gov.

On June 11, International Refugee Assistance Project filed a lawsuit challenging the processing delays of Special Immigrant Visa applications on behalf of Afghan and Iraqi individuals who currently work or who have previously worked with the United States government. In 2013, Congress mandated that applicants should receive a decision on their visa petition within 9 months, however it is taking much longer.

By Mark Footerman

Intolerance is the result of festered ignorance. If we open our minds to new cultures, faiths, ideas, and ways of life, we grow closer.

This week, I was honored to join Kashif Chaudhry in his place of worship to participate in the traditional Iftar—the evening meal that breaks the Ramadan fast each day.

By Maureen Elias

If someone asked you to stay the night with a stranger, would you? What if that stranger belonged to a religion that is commonly misunderstood and often associated with religious extremism?

When I was asked to spend the night in the home of a Muslim family to experience an evening of Ramadan, I replied yes without hesitation. Why? Because I have Muslim friends who are wonderful Americans who are saddened by the stereotypes and misinformation that they often hear about their beloved faith.

Hello everyone! My name is Damien Powell and I am a new intern working with the Vets for American Ideals (VFAI) team at Human Rights First. I am thankful for this wonderful opportunity to learn more about this great organization and to help bolster the work my fellow veterans are doing for their communities and our allies abroad.