Bacon's Rebellion

Honoring Sacrifice

—

by

James A. Bacon
in ,
American G.I.s with the fallen at the Battle of the Bulge.

The Battle of the Bulge took place almost 80 years ago to the day. (The last-ditch German assault began December 16.) Roughly 75,000 Americans were killed, wounded or went missing. They fought, suffered, and died to defeat the scourge of Nazism and uphold our freedoms. We remember their sacrifices – and the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of other Americans in countless other battles — once a year on Veteran’s Day.

While cultural elites wallow in guilt and shame over our past as white settler colonialists, we should remind ourselves of the great things our nation has accomplished. We emerged from a world in which the universal condition of mankind was hierarchy and servitude, in which cruelty and oppression were ubiquitous, and in which kings, princes, potentates and warlords fought ceaselessly with one another.

Our nation bequeathed to the world the immortal words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And we have striven to live up to that ideal.

The United States defeated the Southern slaveocracy in the Civil War, contributed to the destruction of Europe’s monarchies in World War I, defeated fascism in World War II, hurried the dismantling of European colonialism in Africa and Asia, and brought an end to Soviet communism in the Cold War. We championed the market capitalism that lifted untold billions from poverty.

At home, we have proceeded in fits and starts to fulfill Jefferson’s immortal words. The journey has not been perfect. Our past has its blights and blemishes. Measured by the standards of the angels, we are all fallen creatures. But we — and by “we” I mean our veterans more than anyone else — have advanced the condition of mankind far beyond what it would have been if left to the tender mercies of monarchs, mullahs, fascists and Bolsheviks.

We have every reason to be proud of our heritage. We have no need to apologize. And we should thank those who suffered and died for us not just one day a year but every single day.

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7 responses to “Honoring Sacrifice”

  1. Rafaelo Avatar
    Rafaelo

    Inspirational, thank you. As I write I am getting ready to stand for a minute of silence at 11:11AM, to mark the end of W W I, and the valor of my Great-Uncle Bobby Gamble, who died charging a machine gun at St. Mihiel with only his .45 pistol. Took out the machine gun. But not before the last burst stitched him across the chest.

  2. Lefty665 Avatar
    Lefty665

    Thankful every day indeed for those who have served. We have Memorial Day in the spring specifically to honor those who died in service.

    I am writing this at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. My gratitude to all.

  3. Wahoo'74 Avatar
    Wahoo'74

    Superb tribute, Jim. Thank you!🙏👍🏻🇺🇸

  4. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    Our country's heritage IS important to us but we also need to remember that there were men and women from more than 40 countries fighting the Nazi's. There are dead heroes from twelve nations buried at Normandy.

    Veterans from all of those countries fought and died to preserve far more than just their own country's respective "heritage". They fought and died
    to protect OUR freedom also no matter how each respective country's heritage achieved it. Our Heritage is not unique in that regard.

    There's a bigger context that we should not overlook.

    I'm thankful for ALL veterans around the world who fought and died
    for freedom.

  5. kls Avatar
    kls

    In Flanders Fields
    By John McCrae

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
     That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.
    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
    In Flanders fields.
    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.

  6. Carter Melton Avatar
    Carter Melton

    Amen. Thanks, Jim.

  7. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    Trump's NSA pick Mike Waltz was a counterterrorism advisor to Dick Cheney and thought the US should stay in Afghanistan forever. In a 2017 clip, he suggested the war be "multigenerational." But sure, keep pretending Trump was the anti-war candidate.

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