Sentence:  The 140414 Americans who gave `` the last full measure of devotion '' to prevent disunion , <WSD>preserved</WSD> individual freedom in the United States from the dangers of anarchy , inherent in confederations , which throughout history have proved fatal in the end to all associations composed primarily of sovereign states , and to the liberties of their people . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last