We are all guided by our upbringing, our surroundings, both immediate and extended. My generation is largely the offspring of combat veterans. Our grandfathers WW1 and fathers WW2. Our father’s exploits on the world stage in WW2 were almost fantasy level legendary. They were each part of the big picture, while each having their own, very personal experience, story.
I know on my part this was always my challenge to be a little tougher than I maybe wanted to be. To work a little harder than I could have gotten by with. To not back away when the need for a courageous step forward was required. Why? That behavior was all around us growing up. It was normal. Expected.
This picture freezes the enormity of this time. Two brothers in arms. On a professional ballfield. The eyes of thousands on them. Sharing an unspoken treasure and horror. The spirits and pains of the dead in a cloud surrounding their souls. A unity, a connection you can’t properly describe. You’re either living it or you’re not. They are truly enjoying a guilty peace. An every morning gratitude. Thank you. How the hell did we make it? Nerves for this moment? Pressure of the moment? There is a from here to eternity distance from this to what they’ve been through. No nerves, Sir.
We have a new “greatest generation” taking over.
When the towers were hit, our young ran to the fight. Long enlistment lines. Shades of Pearl Harbor. Their new battle cry, “Let’s roll.”
Vance and Hegseth are them.
They have the same shared honor. The same shared horror. It changes you. Forever. Most of the time, in a way that helps you see through the lies of crowded cheap emotions. Let’s get on with it. Time is precious. Have courage to actually do the right thing. Now. As soon as possible. Life is precious.
Do I have faith in the next generation? Hell yes. When you cut through the left wing propaganda machine, the basic heart of America is still very much beating.
It fought the Hun. It landed on Normandy Beach. It carried the battle into terrorist territory without hesitation. It knows the price of weakness is paid with the death of the warrior. Peace only comes when your enemies know that the cost of testing us is way too high. I think they’re getting the message now again. Finally.
Amen. Thank you Vance and Hegseth! You give us hope for the next generation of leadership.