MULLINS, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford, recently returned from two weeks of training with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, said we should remember and honor those Americans fighting in Iraq.

Sanford spoke at the Marion County NAACP Branch's Freedom Fund Banquet and Woman of the Year Program on Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., appeared to deliver the ceremony's opening prayer.

Sanford emphasized to the 500 or so in attendance that freedom was not free. And even those far away from the front must fight to achieve and maintain it.

"So the question we all have to answer is how do we advance freedom?" the governor said, according to the Morning News of Florence. "Not only at an international level where we have all of those who are paying the extreme sacrifice but, we have to answer how we can achieve freedom on a local level. And, freedom basically means economic opportunity for everyone."

Sanford said continuously upgrading the regions' public school systems is vital toward economic freedom.

"The wheel of freedom has many spokes and economic opportunity brings people freedom," Sanford said. "And, education will ultimately bring economic opportunity."

Graham discussed the ongoing war in Iraq. He said even after the country is liberated, the United States will have to "look at where the other threat really lies."

Graham said the war on terrorism will be long and cost billions of dollars. "But if we don't do it now, then it only gets worse," he said.

Dr. Daniel W. Blue Jr., president of the Marion County NAACP chapter, presented Sanford with the Distinguished Service Award.

Sanford took part in Reserve Commissioned Officers Training at Maxwell Air Force Base near Montgomery, Ala.

Information from: Florence Morning News