Honor them. America has 233 million citizens, of whom 7.8 percent are veterans. Our nation owes its survival to 2.34 percent of us. America’s active duty are 1.34 million, half a percent. We owe them much. To those who have fallen, whom we recall on Memorial Day, we owe all.
Given new pressures from world adversaries, whom Biden coddles, inflames, incites, appeases, from Afghanistan, China, and Russia to Iran and terrorists – we must stop n Memorial Day.
Without our history of deterrence, many of these adversaries would already have attacked us or allies. Without today’s active duty military, backed by veterans, reserves, and the National Guard, plus Coast Guard and law enforcement, we would all be lost. Deterrence is tenuous.
If that is always true, it is more so today. Not since World War II, which took many of those we remember today, has the world been more afire. We try not to think about it, but the world is a ruthless place, one that envies us, resents us, and increasingly threatens us, here in America.
Evil doers around the world, flooding our borders, are enemies of all free people, no respect for laws or principles, including safety from evil. They are opportunists. They ignore laws, have no moral code, see openness as weakness. “No honor among thieves,” they angle to get us.
That is a central lesson of America history – one taught by those who gave all, and whom we must stop to remember on Memorial Day. Only by standing up to evil do you deter it.
No nation in human history has risen for others – like America. Nor has any so consistently stood against the forces that – at home and abroad – incite global instability, seek to suppress freedom.
From our Founding Fathers, who commissioned the USS Constitution to stop Barbery Pirates to the Monroe Doctrine, from Theodore Roosevelt in 1898 to WWI, WWII, and conflicts thereafter, we do not flinch in defending freedom. Because of those who have died, we are known for that.
So, who do our adversaries respect? America’s veterans, dead and living, those who gave all and whom we solemnly honor today, and those who continue stepping up, incurring awful costs.
Last week, a warning came from the State Department: The world is unsafe. Surprise apparently to Blinken and Biden. Americans must exercise “caution,” as we face a major “security alert.”
The world Biden built is seething with threats, Afghanistan and Iranian terrorists, China and Russia in a military alliance, 24,000 illegal Chinese bursting into the US in 2024. Something is afoot – and it gives pause. But ironically, those who died – whom we honor today – are one reason our adversaries have not acted. They respect the courage of those who fell for freedom.
Our history is “peace through strength,” deterrence, readiness, and superiority. We are defined by the resolve of those who came before, as well as our own – feckless political leadership aside.
The historical identity of America precedes us, an echo in the long canyon of time. That we still have a measure of peace in a troth in political competence, leadership, and courage is their doing.
The big wheel will turn, and America will again have strong leadership. But until it does, we are enjoying – although few will see it – the freedom from war that past sacrifice made possible.
So, perhaps this Memorial Day we recognize the power of intergenerational, era to era deterrence made possible by those who have fallen, as much as those who presently stand to defend us.
Freedom and order are the product of valuing those elements generation to generation. Sacrifice is needed to create and keep them alive. Peace is earned in a dangerous world, must be defended.
So, looking back to those who fell for freedoms we enjoy – and looking around – defending freedom must never stop. We honor those who fell by keeping what they fought for well. What did Churchill say? “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” That was true in 1940, and is today. We honor the fallen, and those who take their place, today and always. Honor them.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
