Weak men create hard times, you’ve heard the rest. It comes full circle and strong men are created through hard times. The greatest generation were men and women whose strength was forged through unimagined adversity, earning the title. Growing up during WWI, clawing through the Great Depression and battling through WWII. An entire nation supporting the war effort, imagine that. We can’t fathom the mental fortitude it takes to make it through, but we can appreciate it and that’s what remembering D-Day means.

Time and time again the United States has offered her bravest and brightest warriors to fend off the world’s enemies. I had the distinct honor of serving with the 101st Airborne. Immediately upon reception we had the history of the unit instilled in us. The story of “Old Abe,” an eagle whose image would become the most recognizable and decorated unit insignia. Also, the lesser-known quote from Major General William C. Lee stated prior to the invasion that the 101st Division had no history, but a Rendezvous with Destiny, which would later become the division’s motto.

There are stories of heroism, one of my personal favorites is that of Paratrooper Vincent Speranza’s story of his famous Bastogne beer run which has made its way into a movie. You may have seen him singing the paratrooper song “Blood on the Risers.”

There was an emphasis placed on remembering one’s history, for good reason.

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Without using the internet, tell me in the comments who is attributed with that quote.

I would be remiss to say history won’t repeat itself as it often does.

As a country who has been at peace a fraction (roughly 7%) of the time it’s existed, America has sought out and fought Socialism, Communism, Terrorism to the end of the Earth. For now, here we are with members of Congress openly claiming their Socialist ties. I feel we are destined for some hard times as the cycle continues.

To honor those who on D Day were willing to die or did lose their life, we must remember and honor them so that their sacrifice is not lost on us. We must raise America’s sons and daughters by instilling in them what it means to be an American. With us being at war for roughly 93% of our existence, it’s our culture to be the world police, to protect the innocent the world over. To end genocide, to be the beacon of hope for anyone who seeks it. To vehemently protect what it means to be free.

I leave you with this, Americanism – A collective political identity based on the principles outlined in the Constitution of the United States by the Founding Fathers. Such ideologies include republicanism, freedom, liberty, individualism, constitutionalism, human rights, and the rule of law.

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Airborne! 
Dillon Daughenbaugh