How does a person discover the purpose of his or her life? Some discover it by chance, a casting of the lot, while others experience a call from destiny, beckoning them onward. Our men and women in uniform, who have paid the ultimate price of destiny, have secured freedom for generations of Americans and helped propel peace across the world.
Throughout the pages of history, Americans have stepped up to the plate when adversaries wish to do us harm or victims of brutality in other nations are at risk. We can recount the attempt by Adolf Hitler to annihilate an entire human race, among other groups. The American campaign for independence is yet another example of the nation, even in its infancy, fighting for what its people believe in.
Americans saw injustice unfold before their very eyes and realized the mission at hand: to stand up for our Judeo-Christian values and protect the motherland. These foundational ideas work in unison to create a strong and free country preserved by the blood of patriots.
In American history, we have been tested on many fronts. But, we were not disheartened, and other countries took note. Japanese Admiral Keiji Shibazaki, confident in his command, reportedly bragged that the U.S. could not take Tarawa, even with a million men, in the span of 100 years. An American flag was flown within three days.
In Vietnam, the fight to stop the spread of communism continued to a place called Khe Sanh. Despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantage on the side of Vietnam, 6,000 American Marines would stay to defend it. We were outnumbered three to one, and the North Vietnamese forces attacked the U.S. troops for 77 days straight. The American soldiers held out until they were finally relieved by other U.S. forces breaking the North Vietnamese lines.
These heroic stories inspire a love of God and country and instill an unwavering sense of patriotism.
The Civil War was yet another pivotal time in American history. Countless lives were tragically lost during the bloodiest war America has ever engaged in. Approximately 600,000 men died, and the memories of those who perished remained fresh in the minds of their loved ones for many years to come. The war was a battle of brother against brother. Relatives of the deceased used ceremonies to process their grief and honor the dead and the cause for which they served. Eventually, these varied ceremonies among both the North and the South coalesced into one. Formerly called Decoration Day, the time to honor our fallen soldiers ultimately became a federal holiday in 1868 and is the holiday we are celebrating today, Memorial Day.
Soon before his reelection and the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln faced dark days of worry regarding the fate of the Union. In 1864, Lincoln addressed the Union soldiers of the 166th Ohio Regiment as they passed through Washington, D.C. Lincoln asked them to stop by the White House while on their way home from the battlefield and, in brief remarks to them, expressed the unifying reason he and they fought for the country they loved. Lincoln said it’s “dedication to the proposition” that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights which among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
I believe Lincoln’s words resonate with us today in the year 2024. He said:
I suppose you are going home to see your families and friends. For the service you have done in this great struggle in which we are engaged I present you sincere thanks for myself and the country. I almost always feel inclined, when I happen to say anything to soldiers, to impress upon them in a few brief remarks the importance of success in this contest.
It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children’s children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. I beg you to remember this, not merely for my sake, but for yours.
I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father’s child has. It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations.
It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright — not only for one, but for two or three years. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.
In this same spirit, let’s honor and learn from those who willingly stood in the enemy’s war path to protect our way of life for generations to come. It is difficult to conceptualize where America would be without the brave Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout the country’s history of war and conflict.
It’s all too easy, especially for those of us blessed to have grown up in this great land, to take our liberty for granted. We forget that freedom isn’t free. It must be paid for, and not just once.
Again and again, Americans have stepped forward in a moment of crisis and put their lives on the line. They fought in the American Revolution — both in the heat of summer and in the dead of winter, when snow blanketed the ground, supplies were low, and the outlook was bleak. Even after an American victory against the British, the fight for freedom has never been paused.
It’s their sacrifice we remember on Memorial Day. While we feel so much sadness for their loss, I think there is something else we should consider when we recall those who fell in battle.
It comes down to what motivated those brave men and women to do what they did. Imagine walking toward danger and possibly death, when every fiber of your body is screaming at you to seek shelter. What makes you march toward the blazing gunfire and earth-shattering bombs rather than desperately fleeing from them?
A soldier, it is said, fights not because he hates who is in front of him, but because he loves who is behind him. Those we commemorate on Memorial Day fought for mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and all those they hold dear. They fought for our liberty and land. They made this sacrifice because they believe America is worth fighting for.
What other country in the world shares the same values and principles as America? America is the last best hope for man on Earth. There is nowhere to escape, which is why we must protect and preserve this great nation.
Remember our fallen heroes, honor those who answered the call, and most importantly teach our children the value of freedom.
Amelia Koehn earned her B.A. in political science and minored in history. She is a former member of the University of Iowa Women’s Rowing Team and president of Young Women for America at the University of Iowa. She lives in Washington D.C. and works at Judicial Watch while serving on the Development Board of the Germanna Foundation in Culpeper, VA.
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