It had always been my dad’s wish to visit the Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii. A day or so after the attacks of Dec. 7, 1941, the man who would be my father joined numbers of his peers in skipping school, bombarding recruitment offices, lying about their ages, and “enlisting.”
I have a picture of my dad with two friends, in their first-issued Naval uniforms, shipping out for Corpus Christi, Texas, taking their places in the fight for freedom. The WWII call to “pray for our boys,” was poignantly accurate: from communities all over America stepped up brave, patriotic … boys.
About 9 miles from the USS Arizona memorial is another of America’s most sacred places, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. My very patriotic, “greatest generation” parents never made it to either of these American landmarks. But I felt as if my visit to these sites punctuated by recitations of prayers and the pledge of allegiance were made on their behalf.
Walking amidst rows of graves, I could almost hear static-filled news casts as I looked down at the resting place of famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Reflecting on the lives and contributions of 61,000 Americans buried in the Punchbowl Cemetery, my wife and I were deeply moved at the sight of the monument also honoring those, “Known only to God.”
Those words pierce the heart because they remind us that countless Americans gave their futures so future generations could live in liberty. Many Americans now take those sacrifices for granted.
Patriotism is too often mocked by academic and cultural leaders who do not see America as a force for good, but as a nation defined by its failures. Generations of young people have been taught cynicism instead of gratitude, division instead of unity, and resentment instead of responsibility.
A time to reflect, to recommit.
The year 2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence — two and a half centuries since a courageous generation pledged “their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor” to establish a nation founded upon liberty, self-government, and God-given rights. The American experiment was born in sacrifice, sustained through bloodshed and preserved by generations of selfless patriots.
The story of America is not merely written in parchment and speeches. It is written in frozen footprints at Valley Forge, where soldiers under George Washington endured starvation, disease, and bitter cold so that a free republic might survive.
Barefoot men marched through snow stained with blood. Fighting on, they believed liberty was worth their suffering for.
That same spirit carried Americans through every generation that followed. From the fields of Gettysburg to the beaches of Normandy; from the jungles of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan, our brave men and women answered the call of duty.
Over the course of our quarter-millennia existence, approximately 1.2 million American service people never returned home. Throughout our nation stand silent witnesses to the price of freedom — the white headstones of our military burial sites.
Today, unspeakably dangerous ideologies are rapidly gaining influence. Marxism (which has yielded oppression, poverty, and death wherever it has ruled) is romanticized by those who have never lived under its iron fist.
Others openly advocate allowing Islamic Sharia law to coexist alongside the principles of our Constitutional Republic. Such treason must be stopped now. America’s founders would be horrified to see the liberty and order they gave all to bring forth being eliminated through blind encouragement of tyrannical ideologies.
America’s strengths have always rested upon moral conviction, personal responsibility, and the belief that rights come from God, not government. The solutions to our national challenges begin as citizens personally accept the call to preserve the republic for future generations.
That duty begins in the home. Parents must teach their children to honor the flag, respect our history and national identity. Schools should be required to teach the principles of the Constitution, and the story of American liberty, with honesty and pride. Churches should encourage moral courage, humble service, and love of God and country.
This 250th anniversary should be a renewal of the American spirit. We are heirs to an extraordinary inheritance purchased at enormous cost. We dishonor those who suffered at Valley Forge and those buried beneath the crosses and stars of our military cemeteries if we allow false narratives and moral decay to destroy what they fought to preserve.
The future of the United States depends not only on constitutions and courts, but on citizens willing to live with courage, gratitude, and responsibility. Freedom survives only when people are willing to defend it, teach it, and cherish it.
As we commemorate 250 years of independence, let every American resolve to become a better steward of this precious republic. Fly the flag proudly. Study our history honestly. Honor our veterans faithfully.
Raise children who love liberty. Live with integrity and faith. Serve your community. Defend constitutional principles. Speak well of your country. And never forget that freedom survives only through sacrifice.
True patriots do not tear down the republic; they strengthen it. Yes, the Torch of Liberty has been passed to us. May we prove worthy to carry it forward for generations yet unborn.
Dr. Alex McFarland is an apologetics evangelist who has spoken in hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is heard live on “Exploring the Word,” airing daily on 200+ radio stations across the country. “The Alex McFarland Show” airs weekly on NRBTV, providing Biblically faithful TV and discussion on current events affecting our nation. His newest book, “100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times,” is available now.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].