Honoring Our Heroes

by Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: Honoring Our Heroes - Sunday was Veterans Day. Over the weekend, communities across the country honored our military veterans for their service and sacrifice.

The day originally began as Armistice Day to mark the 11 AM ceasefire on November 11, 1918, that ended World War I. President Trump flew to France last week to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the end of what was then known as The Great War. In 1954 Congress renamed Armistice Day as Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all our wars.

Sadly, we are living in an era of increasing hostility toward America. A false narrative has taken root on our college campuses. We are teaching our children not American history but anti-American history.

We are teaching that our nation is an evil, oppressive force, founded on slavery and genocide. No wonder growing numbers of young Americans do not describe themselves as patriotic.

Increasingly, the values that used to unite us now divide us. Monuments to our founding fathers are under attack. Even the Pledge of Allegiance is denounced as "an instrument of white nationalism."

Of course, our veterans know better. They understand that America is a force for good in the world, that it is worth defending, that it is, as Abraham Lincoln once described it, "the last best hope of Earth."

Here are some excerpts of President Trump's Veterans Day proclamation:

"As we mark the centennial of the Armistice, we remember the countless sacrifices that our country's heroic veterans have made throughout our history to preserve our liberty and prosperity. Our veterans embody the values and ideals of America and the timeless virtue of serving a greater cause. . .

"As Commander in Chief of our heroic Armed Forces, I humbly thank our veterans and their families for their selflessness and love of country as we remember their service and their sacrifice. Today, and every day, we pay tribute to those who have worn the uniform, and we pray for the safety of all currently serving in harm's way. . .

"I encourage all Americans to recognize the fortitude and sacrifice of our veterans through public ceremonies and private thoughts and prayers."

Please find an opportunity to talk to your children and grandchildren about what happened at Concord Bridge and Gettysburg, on the beaches of Normandy and, more recently, in the deserts of Iraq and in the mountains of Afghanistan.

As Ronald Reagan once said:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Click here if you would like to send a message of thanks or support to our troops.

To the millions who have always been there to stop the tyrant, protect the weak and preserve the peace -- we have not forgotten you. A grateful nation thanks God for giving us heroes like you.
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Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families

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