Story Freedom: The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hesitance or restraint. Take a minute to imagine what it would be like to live in a place that is not free—a place where we cannot act, speak, or think as we want without fear of repercussion. I have always found it interesting that the word free is in the word freedom because freedom is most definitely not free. I think many of us take for granted the environment we live in. I will be the first one to admit that I do. Each day I wake up, carry on with my day and forget that freedom is a privilege earned by the blood, sweat, and tears of the members of the Department of Defense.