Some Thoughts on Freedom

Auntie Anne Beiler
July 19, 2011

Auntie Anne Beiler

Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels

I just finished reading the book "Quiet Hero," written by Rita Cosby. Rita is a journalist and has contributed on the Fox network as well as MSNBC. I recently had the privilege of meeting her at a Gaither concert in Gatlinburg. 

Rita Cosby exudes life, and in her presence you feel her passion for loving others. The book is a must-read, one you cannot put down until you've finished it. It tells the story of her Dad, a resistance fighter against the Germans when they invaded Warsaw, Poland. Her father is still living, and Rita traveled with him to Poland where they honored him for his service 65 years later. 

Finishing the book the week of the 4th reminded me to understand that freedom is not free. It always comes with a price tag. Someone before me paid a dear price for the freedom i enjoy today.

As I sat with my family and a few friends and watched fireworks on the farm, I smiled...

I smiled because I saw my children and grandchildren enjoy freedom with each fireworks display. 

I saw the grandchildren love, laugh and squeal with delight each time a firework filled the sky. 

I laughed when Ryan (age 7) was lighting his very own cherry bomb and another one went off right behind him. It scared him and he hopped like a frog and took off running. 

I thought to myself, America truly is the land of the free! A place where children can run and play, a place where families and friends can enjoy an evening together.

America is free because someone paid a price for it. I'm thankful for all the "Quiet Heroes" who fought for the freedom I so enjoy.

Thanks to those who continue to pay the required price so that I can enjoy fireworks with my family in a peaceful little place called Gap, Pa.

Free Indeed...Auntie Anne

For information on how to book Anne Beiler for your next event, visit PremiereSpeakers.com/anne_beiler.

Auntie Anne Beiler

Want Auntie Anne Beiler for your next event?

Find out more information, including fees and availability.
Find Out More
Keep Reading
Overcoming the Loss of a Newborn with Nicole Hostetter
Auntie Anne Beiler
Auntie Anne Beiler
February 15, 2022
In her high school yearbook, Nicole Hostetter said her goal was to be a mom. It was ...
Surprise! We're Making A Movie!
Auntie Anne Beiler
Auntie Anne Beiler
February 11, 2022
The first weekend we opened our market stand in a sleepy farmers market in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, I was a ...
A Conversation about Abandonment with LaWonna Goedhart
Auntie Anne Beiler
Auntie Anne Beiler
February 07, 2022
When Lawonna Goedhart’s little sister was killed unexpectedly, she watched her ...
Overcoming the Loss of a Newborn with Nicole Hostetter
In her high school yearbook, Nicole Hostetter said her goal was to be a mom. It was the one thing she always wanted, and the one thing she felt was her purpose in life. And after getting pregnant with her first child, it seemed as if her goal was being realized. But then she found out her son’s chance of survival outside the womb was zero perc...
Read More
Surprise! We're Making A Movie!
The first weekend we opened our market stand in a sleepy farmers market in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, I was a ball of nerves. But, of course, it wasn’t just pretzels that we sold in the very early days. In fact, the pretzels were terrible until we tweaked the recipe and discovered what is now an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. That was 33 years ago, as...
Read More
A Conversation about Abandonment with LaWonna Goedhart
When Lawonna Goedhart’s little sister was killed unexpectedly, she watched her parents and extended family go through the emotional trauma of losing a child. But in the midst of all that trauma and sadness, four-year-old Lawonna felt ignored, abandoned, and forgotten. And I, as her mother, still feel the hurt and the pain of what she went thro...
Read More
Bouncing Back After A Devastating Business Loss with Michelle Schaffer
Today’s episode is brought to you by Girl Power Alliance, a faith-based learning community with the highest quality education through mini-courses, live training, and highly qualified coaches. Through their monthly membership, you will have instant access to highly sought-after leaders in a variety of fields and professions sharing strategies an...
Read More
A Letter To My Sweet Angie on her 48th Birthday
To my dear Angie, My blue-eyed, blond-haired sweet baby girl. I miss you so much! You may be surprised to be receiving a letter from me after all this time has passed. I’ve talked about you and written about your life and how it has impacted Dad and me, but I’ve never written to you. So I guess an apology would be in order. You weren’t with us v...
Read More
From Victim to Surviving to Thriving with Catherine Schiffer
In her formative years, Catherine Schiffer fell victim to daily sexual, verbal, and physical abuse. Through her teens and into her thirties, she fought to survive, battling drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and two failed marriages with many dysfunctional relationships in between. In her forties, she knew it was time to change or die, and that’s when...
Read More
Finding God Again After Tragedy with Lori Champion
When Lori Champion's dad died, she went numb and could no longer feel the God she'd always known and loved. And then after getting cancer, while pregnant with her first child, she doubted whether she'd actually live and feared the cancer might take her. This week on Overcome With Auntie Anne, I'm chatting with Lori Champion about how she found...
Read More
Overcoming a Constant Sense of Dread with Mental Health Advocate Brittney Moses
Brittney Moses grew up in a home with loving parents. But their divorce in her pre-teen years upended the life she knew, and she fought to get by. As one struggle after another continued to pile on, her life became about simply surviving. This week on Overcome With Auntie Anne, I'm talking with Brittney about how she went from surviving to sta...
Read More
Getting Vulnerable About Alcoholism with Mindy and Ben Isaacs
When Ben Isaacs met his future wife, Mindy, he had no idea the extent of her drinking problem. What appeared to be a drink here or there was actually full-blown alcoholism that went unnoticed at first. Mindy says, "I couldn't imagine my life with alcohol. I couldn't imagine my life without it. Awful, awful stuff." This week on Overcome With Au...
Read More
Living with Crohn's Disease and Overcoming Panic Attacks with Becky Isaacs Bowman
Although she's an accomplished musician, singer, and songwriter who's performed in front of people since she's been a young girl, Becky Isaacs Bowman suffers from panic attacks while on stage. Add to that a terminal illness making the anxiety worse, and it's easy to see why Becky has spent a good portion of her life overcoming. Today on Overco...
Read More