It is not the fact that Tony Ton is recently nationalized and living in Seattle that makes him significant.

Nor is it that he once served in the South Vietnamese Air Force, survived three years in a communist reeducation camp, and navigated a boat with his wife and two sons to a refugee camp in Thailand.

What makes him special is what he can teach us about the price of freedom and patriotism, especially now that we are at war again.

As a teenager, Ton was forced to hide in a cellar while fighting went on between U.S. Marines and communist forces during the bloody 28-day battle to liberate the city of Hue, Vietnam.

When he was old enough, Ton entered the air force and trained as a navigator in Texas, later flying in C-130 and C-119 aircraft. During the last days of the war, Ton was ordered to evacuate with his family from Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, but the carnage from last-minute desperation to flee and enemy fire forced him to seek shelter in a village.

After the initial takeover of the former democratic country of South Vietnam by the communist forces, all former Soldiers of the south were ordered to attend three days of citizenship certification at a local school. But this was a trick the communists used to learn who was still in the country. Later, Ton was ordered again to go to the school and attend 10 days of reeducation. Instead, he spent three years at an indoctrination concentration camp, far from any city or village.

Despite being told he could eventually rejoin his family, Ton was instead forced to live and work in a newly instituted economic zone far from his home in Hue.

When the opportunity arose, Ton chose to risk it all to be free from communist rule: He fled. After spending seven days at sea, he safely reached a refugee camp in Thailand and then continued on to Seattle, penniless. It was 17 years before his whole family reunited.

During the post-war period, it is believed that thousands perished doing the same thing.

Eventually, Ton was able to attend the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in engineering and then went to work for Boeing. He now lives in a large, beautiful home on the shores of Puget Sound.

Though he still struggles with the English language, it has not stopped him from working on projects like the Joint American and South Vietnamese War memorial.

Ton and the Vietnamese community are deeply grateful to the sacrifices made by American-born veterans for the defense of their homeland and show it at every opportunity. Active-duty Servicemembers are also highly regarded for their sacrifice and commitment to freedom.

Ton's experience teaches us to value hard work and education - and also that the freedoms we have achieved in this country are delicate and must be diligently protected.