 My father said that as a civilian, he was eating his morning oatmeal back in New York in 1956 when he read in the paper that the mule program was discontinued. The 300 plus hardy animals plotted off to retirement. Well, we celebrate America's greatness and independence today, but it's only thanks to God's favor and the countless men and women who have done difficult and even seemingly impossible things, including carrying cannons and mules up a 14,000 foot mountain.